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The Circle Undergraduate Internship Program

Applications for the Fall 2013 program are now being accepted until the available scholarships are awarded. This is for two FREE online courses
(6 semester-hour credits).



Apply now.

 

 


 Free Class Credit  ♦  Paid Internships
Career Opportunities for Any Major  ♦  Great Resume Material

Imagine having a "backstage pass" to handwritten lyrics of a Bob Dylan song.
Imagine learning to preserve materials from the 16th century.
Imagine assisting in the creation of an exhibition catalog.
Imagine helping researchers find the information they need.

Imagine getting free courses and a paid internship to do this...

If you've ever wondered what you will do with your degree, whether it is in English or history, biology or anthropology, art or music, or health sciences or pre-law, The Circle Undergraduate Internship Program will introduce you to careers that you may have never imagined.


Working as an information professional in libraries, archives and museums — like those in the University Circle area — offers different ways to use your academic major and
maximize your personal interests and skills.


Circle_logoWhat is "The Circle"?

Cleveland's University Circle is home to world-class cultural and educational institutions, as well as being the medical hub of the Cleveland metro area. All of these institutions rely on librarians and archivists to organize their collections and make them available to the public.

The Circle Undergraduate Internship Program, or "The Circle," for short, is a unique educational partnership between the Kent State University School of Library and Information Science and the libraries and archives of leading educational, medical and cultural institutions in the Cleveland area.*

Imagine working in these institutions...

What's in it for me?

In The Circle Undergraduate Internship Program, undergraduate students, regardless of major, get a chance to explore career opportunities as a librarian, archivist or information professional in libraries, museums and archives through two courses and a paid internship.

And, the best part is, not only do you get to try it for free — you get paid for doing it.

  • You get six credit hours (two courses) for free. (Course credits are generally transferable to a student’s home institution, but students must check with their local institution to determine if the courses will be accepted for academic credit.)

  • You get free textbooks.

  • You get a $200 stipend for completing a shadowing experience in one of these pre-eminent institutions in the first course.

  • You get paid $1,000 (100 hours at $10 per hour) to complete an internship at one or more of these institutions in the second course.

 

Courses (Two-semester sequence)

Course #1 (3 credit hours)
Introduction to Library & Information Professions

  • Take a 10-week online course (no classroom sessions).

  • Learn about career opportunities in library and information professions.

  • Visit participating University Circle libraries and archives.

  • Complete a 20-hour, paid shadowing experience. 

Students who successfully complete Course #1 can choose from a variety of paid internships in Course #2.


Course #2 (3 credit hours)
Library Internship Experience

  • Complete 100 hours of paid (@$10/hour) internship at one or more of the participating University Circle libraries and archives.

How do I join The Circle?

If you are an undergraduate student, a sophomore, junior or senior entering your senior year in the fall, you can apply for The Circle Undergraduate Internship Program. Two-semester sequences will begin in the fall and spring semesters through Spring 2013.

The program is designed for students at Baldwin Wallace College, Cleveland State University, John Caroll University, Case Western Reserve University, Kent State University and other Northeast Ohio universities.


Criteria

  • GPA: 2.8 or above

  • Academic standing of sophomore or above

  • Ability to schedule two courses over consecutive semesters (can be spring and summer)

  • Ability to travel to the participating institutions


Application Process

Interested undergraduates must submit the following materials to be considered for The Circle Undergraduate Internship Program:

  • Brief biographical history: download here
  • Basic application information: download here
  • Cover letter (letter of interest)
  • One (1) letter of reference from faculty (to be mailed from faculty member)


No transcripts are required until after acceptance.

All materials must be submitted by mail or e-mail to:

Michelle Baldini
Project Coordinator
 thecircle@kent.edu This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it


330-672-4048 phone
330-672-7965 fax


Kent State University
School of Library and Information Science
1125 Risman Dr., 314 Library
P.O. Box 5190

Kent, Ohio 44242

If you have questions or need additional information, contact Michelle Baldini at thecircle@kent.edu This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .


This program is made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.


* Partner institutions include the following: