Graduate Public Library Leadership Internship, Ashby Free Public Library (Ashby, MA)

Posted August 5, 2026

Internship Overview

The Ashby Free Public Library offers a graduate-level internship for a Simmons University MLIS student interested in pursuing a career as the director of a small or rural public library. This internship provides an unusually comprehensive opportunity to observe and participate in the full range of responsibilities associated with leading an independent public library.

Unlike an internship focused primarily on public services or programming, this position provides exposure to the governance, administration, fundraising, community engagement, strategic planning, policy development, facilities, technology, communications, and day-to-day operational responsibilities of a small public library director.

The internship is designed to connect graduate coursework with the practical realities of public library leadership and to develop the student’s ability to analyze, plan, implement, and evaluate library services and organizational initiatives.

Primary Areas of Experience

The intern will participate in selected projects across the following areas:

Governance and Trustees

• Attend library trustee meetings and, when appropriate, committee meetings.
• Learn the roles and responsibilities of trustees, library directors, municipal government, and Friends/fundraising organizations.
• Observe the development and implementation of board policies.
• Review governance documents, bylaws, policies, strategic plans, and other administrative records.
• Assist with preparation of board materials, reports, agendas, and presentations.
• Examine the relationship between governance, accountability, advocacy, and library administration.

Foundation and Organizational Development

• Assist with foundational organizational work, including assessment of services, policies, procedures, organizational structures, and community needs.
• Participate in projects designed to strengthen the library’s long-term institutional capacity.
• Analyze existing practices and recommend improvements.
• Learn how a small public library prioritizes limited staff time and financial resources.

Strategic Planning and Community Engagement

• Participate in strategic planning and/or community visioning activities.
• Assist with community needs assessment, stakeholder engagement, surveys, focus groups, or other methods of gathering community input.
• Analyze demographic, usage, and community information.
• Help translate community needs into strategic goals, measurable objectives, and implementation plans.

Programming and Public Services

• Assist in planning, implementing, publicizing, and evaluating library programs.
• Examine how programming supports the library’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Develop methods for measuring attendance, participation, community impact, and program outcomes.
• Explore partnerships with schools, community organizations, cultural institutions, and other agencies.

Marketing, Publicity, and Communications

• Develop and evaluate strategies for promoting library services and programs.
• Create or assist with newsletters, social media, press releases, website content, flyers, and other communications.
• Analyze audience engagement and identify opportunities to expand the library’s reach.
• Explore how a small library can develop an effective communications strategy with limited staff and resources.

Digital Equity and Technology

• Participate in projects addressing digital inclusion and equitable access to technology.
• Examine the library’s technology services, public computing, internet access, digital literacy, and technology lending or support programs.
• Assist with development or evaluation of digital-equity initiatives.
• Consider accessibility and inclusion in the library’s technology services.

Policy Development

• Research and assist in the development or revision of library policies.
• Compare policies and practices from other public libraries and relevant professional standards.
• Develop recommendations supported by research and best practices.
• Consider legal, ethical, operational, and community implications of library policies.

Grants, Fundraising, and Community Partnerships

• Participate in grant research, proposal development, reporting, and evaluation.
• Learn how small public libraries identify funding opportunities and develop projects appropriate for grant funding.
• Assist with fundraising and donor/community engagement initiatives.
• Explore relationships among the library, Friends groups, foundations, historical societies, municipal government, and other community partners.

Administration and Operations

• Observe the day-to-day administrative responsibilities of a small public library director.
• Gain exposure to budgeting, purchasing, staffing, scheduling, facilities, vendor relationships, reporting, and compliance.
• Examine how directors balance immediate operational demands with long-term institutional priorities.
• Participate in appropriate administrative projects and problem-solving activities.

Learning Objectives

By the conclusion of the internship, the student will be able to:

1. Describe the governance and administrative structure of a small public library.
2. Analyze the role of the library director as administrator, community leader, advocate, manager, and public-service professional.
3. Apply management and organizational theory to real-world public library challenges.
4. Develop and evaluate strategic goals and implementation plans.
5. Design or assess library policies using professional standards, research, and community needs.
6. Develop effective approaches to community engagement and public communication.
7. Evaluate library programs and services using qualitative and quantitative measures.
8. Identify potential funding sources and develop grant or fundraising strategies.
9. Analyze digital-equity needs and develop appropriate library responses.
10. Understand the relationship between trustees, staff, municipal government, community partners, and library leadership.
11. Demonstrate professional judgment in balancing competing organizational, community, ethical, and operational priorities.
12. Produce professional-quality administrative work appropriate for use by a public library.

Major Internship Project

The student will complete a substantial project addressing an actual organizational need identified by the library. Possible projects include:

• Development of a strategic planning framework;
• Community needs assessment;
• Comprehensive program evaluation;
• Digital equity plan;
• Library marketing and communications plan;
• Policy review and revision project;
• Grant-development project;
• Trustee orientation or governance resource;
• Community partnership strategy;
• Library service assessment; or
• A multi-part organizational improvement project.

The final project will include a written analysis, recommendations, implementation considerations, and appropriate supporting documentation.

Professional Reflection and Portfolio

The student will maintain an internship journal or reflective log documenting observations, projects, professional questions, and connections between MLIS coursework and practice. At the conclusion of the internship, the student will prepare a professional portfolio or final report demonstrating the competencies developed during the internship.

Supervision and Evaluation

The intern will work directly with the Library Director and will receive regular supervision, project feedback, and professional mentoring. The student will be given progressively greater responsibility as competency is demonstrated.

Evaluation will consider:

• Professional judgment;
• Reliability and initiative;
• Analytical and research skills;
• Written and oral communication;
• Project management;
• Understanding of public library governance and administration;
• Ability to connect theory to practice;
• Quality and usefulness of completed work;
• Professional interaction with trustees, staff, community members, and partners; and
• Achievement of established learning objectives.

Ideal Candidate

This internship is particularly appropriate for an MLIS student considering a career as a public library director, especially in a small, rural, or community-based library. The position is intended for a student who wants substantial exposure to the breadth of responsibilities involved in library leadership rather than a narrowly defined public-services internship.

Experience or coursework in public libraries, management, leadership, strategic planning, community engagement, fundraising, or organizational development is desirable but not required.

How To Apply

To apply contact [email protected]. this internship will be conducted in person at the Ashby Free Public Library located in Ashby Massachusetts 50 miles west of Boston. The Library is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.