USF Libraries Internships

Project Description:

The Special Collections & University Archives department (SCUA) at the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library on the University of South Florida’s St. Petersburg campus is aiming to improve the accuracy and reliability of its holdings on the library catalog. The 3,000+ cataloged materials in its collections are currently located in the reading room and throughout other storage locations. The intern will primarily conduct a “Shelf Report” inventory on ExLibris’ Alma, the library’s integrated library system (ILS) for each storage location and all named collection in SCUA. Once materials have been accounted for, the intern will determine what books in other locations are suitable for easier patron access in the reading room. The intern may also be involved in determining whether materials should remain in SCUA or be moved into the general collection. This work will also involve significant book shifting within the reading room and throughout other storage areas in SCUA. This project will facilitate future plans to refine location and descriptive information for all cataloged materials in SCUA’s collections.

Anticipated Outcomes/Benefits:

The intern will learn how to use ExLibris’ Alma ILS database, specifically the Shelf Report tool and Alma Analytics to run inventory reports. They will also learn proper handling techniques for special collections and archival materials, as well as gain hands on experience working with materials in various formats. The intern will also be engaged in the appraisal and evaluation of materials in a special collections setting.

Special Skill Sets:

• Some experience or knowledge navigating databases (lower level)

Other Requirements:

Internship is based at the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library on the USF St. Petersburg campus. On-site work is required. The intern must be able to lift heavy materials (up to 40 lbs.), climb step ladders, and work in compact spaces. They must have a high level of attention to detail and be able to work on a single project/task for an extended period of time.

The student will ideally be enrolled in the USF Library and Information Science fieldwork course during the fall 2025 semester. Experience in a library, special collections, archives, or museum environment is also preferred.

Project Description:

Intern will assist in preparation for a Data Walk at the Center for a Health Equity in collaboration with USF Libraries, the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, and the St. Petersburg Library System for a project called Data Literacy for Community Action. A data walk consists of sharing collections of data points and variables on large monitors and leading discussion among participants. We are hoping to have around 5 or 6 stations with 2-3 data collections/points for each station. The theme for this data walk will be health and media literacy. Data walks at the Center are one of the more popular events and there are generally around 50 community members that attend and take part. We will also prepare a smaller data walk event to take place at the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library.

The intern will assist in finding data points that are interesting and will generate discussion for the different stations. They will need to share both qualitative and quantitative data and help show large ideas in simple easy visuals. If interested they can also return in Spring 2026 to help facilitate the data walk. The theme of the data walk is data about media and health literacy, so how people understand media like social media, newspapers, news shows and how that affects their health.

Anticipated Outcomes/Benefits:

Student will:

• Use research skills to find data sets and data points about media and health literacy
• Organize data into a manageable set of themes to share with the community
• Create conversation starter questions for community members to discuss data

 

Student Benefits:

• Increase practical research skills
• Practice pedagogical skills
• Create community-based instruction

 

Special Skill Sets:

• Research
• Basic understanding of data and information (does not need statistical expertise)
• Basic knowledge of health and media literacy

Looking for students interested in library science, public health, and/or communications

Other Requirements:

• N/A

Project Description:

USF Libraries’ Digital Initiatives Unit is seeking a Born-Digital Archives intern to support the organization, migration, creation of metadata, and preservation of born-digital archives donated to the USF Libraries by USF faculty and research teams.
 


Anticipated Outcomes/Benefits:

• Students will have the opportunity to learn key theoretical approaches to born-digital archiving, digital collections migration and management, metadata generation, and digital preservation.

Special Skill Sets:

• Experience or interest in library science, archives, digital collections, cultural heritage, or 3D models preferred.


Other Requirements:

• N/A