Designing a successful library school field experience
| Date | 01 August 2005 |
| Pages | 311-323 |
| Published date | 01 August 2005 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/01435120410609734 |
| Author | Paul Kelsey,Mohan Ramaswamy |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science |
Designing a successful library
school field experience
Paul Kelsey
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA, and
Mohan Ramaswamy
Kansas State University Libraries, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
Abstract
Purpose – To share the library school field experience paradigm that the authors developed after
their successful participation as a supervisor and student.
Design/methodology/approach – A review of field experience literature is provided. The field
experience paradigms and perspectives pertaining to the supervisor and the student are explained.
The paradigm is suggested as a model for field experience participants and their supervisors.
Findings – The field experience paradigm for the supervisors elucidates the stages – planning,
training, mentoring and evaluation. The paradigm for students explains the phases – awareness,
interests, planning and participation.
Research limitations/implications – The focus of the field experience, from which the paradigm
emanated, was to train and prepare the student for agricultural librarianship in an academic library.
The application of the paradigm may vary for different situations.
Practical implications – The paradigm is expected to be useful for supervisors and students of
field experience programs.
Originality/value – This paradigm stems from the participation of the authors as a field experience
supervisor and student. The steps and methods the authors followed will help advance future field
experience programs.
Keywords Librarians, Recruitment, Experience
Paper type Case study
Introduction
A recent library school graduate, in response to an ACRL report listing “Recruitment,
education, and retention of librarians” as a top issue, stated:
... it’s not easy to find an entry-level position in an academic library these days; available
jobs increasingly require skills and specializations ... from second master’s degrees or
significant time in other job sectors (Paulson, 2003).
How do library school students acquire the work experience and skills so vital to
finding employment as information professionals? Brett Singleton’s tips for library
school students recommend taking advantage of internship “opportunities for
exploring, learning, and mentoring ...” in order to find professional employment after
graduation (Singleton, 2003). Internships, practicums and field experiences offer
exceptional opportunities for library school students to pursue professional level work
under the supervision and mentoring of a professional librarian.
The Louisiana State University Libraries (LSU Libraries) participates in the field
experience program offered through the LSU School of Library and Information
The Emerald Research Register for this journal is available at The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/researchregister www.emeraldinsight.com/0143-5124.htm
Successful
library school
311
Received 15 May 2004
Accepted 25 October 2004
Library Management
Vol. 26 No. 6/7, 2005
pp. 311-323
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0143-5124
DOI 10.1108/01435120410609734
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