Residency Models on the Rise:

Chances and challenges for new librarians, educators, and employers

Presented by Sebastian Wilke & Bridgette HendrixCo-Convenors, NPSIG

WLIC 2014

IFLA New Professionals Special Interest Group | npsig.wordpress.com | @npsig

First comes the degree, then comes...

Congratulations! You graduated Library School!But what do you do next?

Getting Experience

One of the chief complaints of both employers and library students is that LIS programs do not give graduates ample practical experience. How can this be solved?

● Volunteering● Field Study / Course Work● Internships● Part-time Jobs● Residencies / Fellowships / Postgraduate Opportunities

Wait.. What’s a residency?

A residency refers to a structured program that providestraining and practical experience in a particular field.

● Medical Residencies● Artist Residencies● Humanities and Writing Residencies● Library Residencies

Library Residencies

Residencies in the LIS field are relatively new, dating back to the mid 1980’s. Most are concentrated in the academic/research sector, almost none for public libraries. One of the original aims of residency programs in libraries was to address the issue of ethnic diversity in the field.

In library residencies, librarians new to the field, recent graduates, are hired to work in a library in a professional capacity for an established period of time. Programs vary in their concentrations and structures, but many share common features.

San Jose State School of Library and Information Science, Developing a Technology Integration Residency Model: the Catalyst Project Report, June 2012

Features of Library Residencies

● Set Duration: ○ Commonly 2 years○ Sometimes 1 or 3

● Paid Positions:○ Typically with benefits

● Usually Rotational or Specialized

● May result in a capstone or research project, or presentation

● Single host library provides the experience

● Residents and host libraries collaborate on projects

● Can include mentoring and support for additional professional development

● Residents may be placed in groups, called cohorts

Mentoring

A more formalized relationship between the resident and an experienced librarian.

● Can be formal (paired by host institution) or informal

● If a resident rotates throughout different departments in the host institution, often mentors are arranged in each department

● Former residents can serve as mentors

● Other professionals can serve as mentors

Benefits of Mentoring

● Networking● Mutual Support● Increased Exposure

Residency Benefits for New Librarians

● Professional entry-level experience

● Explore new aspects of librarianship

● Networking & professional development

● Potential for full-time employment

Residency Benefits for Host Institutions

● Fresh ideas & attitudes in the workplace

● Leverage residents’ experiences with emerging technology

● Interact with recent graduates

● Impact what’s taught in LIS programs

● Ability to hire highly-trained librarians already familiar with the institution

Downsides to the Residency Model

● Permanent employment is not guaranteed

● Resident’s work may remain the property of the institution after the residency ends

● Co-workers’ perspectives

● Rotational residencies may not provide enough experience in a certain area

● Labor laws and regulations differ from country to country

+ Residencies & Other Experiential Learning Opportunities

Residencies

● Postgraduate● Long-term● Stipend / Salary Provided

Fellowships

● Similar structure to residencies● Often last less than a year● Can be unpaid / hourly pay rate

Internships

● Generally occur during LIS studies

● Usually the length of a semester

● Can be unpaid

Residencies, Internships, & Fellowships

Examples of Library Residences

Early Career / Entry-level

● National Library of Medicine Associate Fellowship (DC, USA)For recent LIS graduates interested in medical librarianship. Research Facility.

● Kress Fellowship in Art Librarianship (New Haven, CT USA)8-month program in a major university library focusing on art librarianship

● The Towson Library Residency Program (Towson, MD USA)Two-year residency at an academic library aimed at increasing diversity in the field. Rotational.

● Google Policy FellowshipThree-month program for current students with interests in internet and technology policy. Several host institutions are available around the world.

Examples of Library Residences

Mid-Career

● Visiting Special Collections Librarian, University of Nevada (Las Vegas, NV USA)

18-month appointment working on a special project.

● Goethe Insitut Librarian in ResidenceMonth-long program focusing on sending German librarians to the US to work on projects involving different topics every year.

Library & Information Science Residencies

Not always in traditional settings

● National Digital Stewardship Residency9-month program sponsored by the US Institute of Museum and Library Studies that concentrates on management of digital cultural assets.

● Wikipedian in ResidenceCultural institutions all over the world host WIR, who manages Wikipedia entries related to the institution.

● Fulbright FellowshipsOpen to US & non-US scholars and students to pursue research interests. Not limited by discipline.

Presented by Sebastian Wilke @listraveler

Bridgette Hendrix @bridgettediannCo-Convenors, NPSIG

WLIC 2014

IFLA New Professionals Special Interest Group | npsig.wordpress.com | @npsig

Questions?

Residency Models on the Rise: Chances and challenges for new librarians, educators, and employers

+Let’s Hack the Model!

Hacking the Residency

In small groups, let’s create an ideal residency model.

Things to think about:

1. In what type of institution will the residency take place?2. Will there be a single resident, or a cohort?3. Is it a rotational residency, or focused on a specific

department / issue?4. Is there a targeted audience or purpose for your residency, i.e.

is it to increase diversity?5. What type of financial assistance will residents receive?6. What types of professional development and support will be

offered?7. Will labor laws or regulations need to be altered?