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Volunteer > Library Service Interns

LIBRARY SERVICE INTERNS, STOREFRONT LIBRARY PROJECT, CHINATOWN, BOSTON, MA

[12/01/09: application period closed]

Library Service Interns are needed in the Storefront Library from October 15 to December 24, 2009 January 17, 2010. Interns are asked to commit to at least three mornings or afternoons for the duration of the installation. Library Service Interns will work in conjunction with the Storefront Library Site Manager to manage and maintain the Storefront Library space, with an emphasis on providing patrons with specialized assistance (research questions, using computers, locating community services, locating information and books, including resources available at the Boston Public Library). Interns will also work with Community Volunteers to re-shelve reading materials and assist with set up for special events, such as story hours or readings.

All interns will be supervised by Boston Street Lab, the nonprofit producer of the Storefront Library.

DATES/HOURS
Thursday – Monday, morning and evening shifts available, October 15 to December 24, 2009 January 17, 2010.  (Library Hours)

Interns commit to at least 3 shifts/week, with minimum commitment of 12 hours/week for approximately 3 months.

Compensation: Unpaid.

REQUIREMENTS

  • Must be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate program in Library Sciences (or have comparable education or employment experience).
  • Must be friendly and organized, have good communications skills, and excellent customer service orientation.
  • Bi-lingual (Chinese/English) desirable, but not required.

ABOUT THE STOREFRONT LIBRARY PROJECT
The Chinatown Storefront Library (www.storefrontlibrary.org) will transform one of Boston Chinatown’s vacant, commercial, street-level spaces into a temporary installation featuring elements of a public library. Operating for approximately three months, the project will create a memorable event for Chinatown and a new destination for visitors to downtown Boston. It will also provide a selection of urgently needed services for a community that has been without a library since 1956, including books, newspapers, periodicals, internet access, a children’s reading area, film screenings, classes, and community events—all visible to passersby from the street.

Taking cues from a Program and Siting Study commissioned by the City of Boston (http://www.bpl.org/branches/chinatown_library_study_final.pdf), the anticipated audience for the Storefront Library includes:

  • Elderly and adults with young children from Boston’s Chinatown neighborhood;
  • Visitors interested in readings, screenings and other programs;
  • Vistiors interested in the Storefront Library’s innovative urban design and program.

The Storefront Library is not a branch of the Boston Public Library, nor is it intended to be a substitute for permanent branch. The goal is to demonstrate and test the potential impact of a permanent library in the neighborhood. The project also models how cities can move forward in tough economic times to activate urban space and serve communities. Program advisors include several senior staff members and librarians from the Boston Public Library, as well as a librarian from the Brooklyn Public Library in NY.

TO APPLY
Please send an email to Leslie Davol, Director, Boston Street Lab, (leslie@bostonstreetlab.org) with the following: cover letter, resume, and list of references. Applicants should use their cover letter to highlight any relevant experience. For questions, email leslie@bostonstreetlab.org or call (617) 275-8117.