Chemistry Library Intern, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Posted January 15, 2019
Availability: One year long position available immediately (posted January 2019)
Hours: Up to 20 hours per week, mainly within 9AM-5PM Monday-Friday time period, but with the possibility of some evening and/or weekend hours
Salary: $15/hour.
Overview: This internship offers a service-oriented, self-motivated individual a complete experience in a small science library setting, providing library services to physical scientists and engineers. Based at the Penn Chemistry Library, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to experience most aspects of the job of a departmental librarian at a large research institution, while working on research and operational projects in chemical information and other areas of science and engineering librarianship. For chemistry students, this is an ideal opportunity to explore chemical information as a potential career option; library and information science students without science backgrounds would be able to gain the knowledge and experience in science and engineering librarianship necessary to seek full-time employment in those areas.
Responsibilities: Duties will fall into three basic categories, with other duties and projects as assigned.
Patron Services and Instruction, including
- Developing, updating, and maintaining remote education materials including Web guides and tutorials
- Assisting at the Van Pelt information desk during intersessions and peak semester periods
- Working a minimum of one to two hours per week providing chat reference services
- Preparing supporting materials for course-integrated instruction sessions
Collection Development Responsibilities, including
- Assisting with a project to evaluate the Chemistry Library’s on-site print journal collection
- Engaging in a project aimed at making physical property data within the Chemistry Library’s print book collection more easily discoverable to Penn chemists
- Assisting with the annual budget process
- Analyzing usage statistics for electronic resources
Professional Development Activities, including
- Attending workshops and training sessions that will develop job and professional skills
- Attending other applicable Penn library meetings, as assigned by supervisor
Qualifications: All applicants must be enrolled either in a master’s degree program in library/information science or in a bachelor’s or master’s degree program in chemistry or biochemistry; for LIS students, a degree in chemistry or a related discipline is preferred but not required. In addition, the successful candidate must have the ability to manage and prioritize their workload and must be able to work both independently and cooperatively in a team environment. Other requirements include:
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Adobe Acrobat, HTML, and Web site generation and design
- Experience searching online databases
- Flexibility, accuracy, and attention to detail in work
Preference will be given to applicants with the following skills:
- Experience designing instructional handouts and guides to the literature
- Experience searching science and engineering databases
- Ability to create databases using Microsoft Access
- Ability to write macros and use pivot tables in Microsoft Excel
To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to the attention of:
Judith Currano
[email protected]
Please write “Chemistry Library Internship” in the subject line.
The University of Pennsylvania values diversity and is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.