GSE&IS Logo Department of Information Studies

IS Internship Program

The Department of Information Studies operates a dynamic and progressive internship program. This program provides students enrolled in the MLIS or PhD degree programs with a wide range of opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills in a structured professional environment under the supervision, guidance and mentoring of current practitioners in the information profession.

Students can choose from a diverse range of traditional and innovative internship sites. These include public libraries, academic libraries, special collections, museum libraries, photo archives, film studios, corporations---anywhere that people use information for work, pleasure, entertainment or enlightenment.

Internship sites participating in the program go through an application and evaluation process. When planning an internship Students have access to internship files on all approved sites to consult. These files include brochures supplied by the individual sites and site reports made by previous interns. During the Spring Quarter the Department hosts an Internship Open House to bring together site supervisors and prospective interns.

The selection of an internship site is a collaborative process during which students consult with their advisor and with the internship coordinator. Once an organization has been selected, students contact the site directly to arrange for a visit and interview.

In addition to working at the internship site students meet to discuss issues within the profession, hear from other practitioners, and complete written assignments. Second year students can take up to three internships, all of which provide them with valuable, supervised professional experience.

If you would like to become an internship site and/or would like more information about becoming a site, please submit your information via our Internship Site Application Request form or fax this printer-ready PDF form (Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat Reader required for PDF versions).

Internship Coordinator

Keri Botello
102A GSE&IS Bldg.,
(310) 206-9392, kbotello@ucla.edu

Examples of Internships

The internship program has been in place since the 1970s and has grown to include nearly 250 sites. Our Los Angeles location allows us to offer an exciting and diverse range of local internship sites. Our program is highly regarded among local organizations and companies. Among those working with UCLA to offer internships to our students are:

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the Getty, the LA County Museum of Art, Dreamworks SKG, AMGEN, Los Angeles Public Library, the Japanese American National Museum, the Huntington Library,  Raytheon, Toyota, and a number of public libraries and public and private schools in the Los Angeles area. More than 20 internships are also available within UCLA such as UCLA Special Collections (including the Mayor Tom Bradley Collection), UCLA College Library, UCLA Ethnomusicology Archive, UCLA Film and Television Archive, and the Fowler Museum.

FILL Internship Program

FILL ("From Interns to Library Leaders") is a Library Services and Technology Act grant project designed to promote public librarianship through paid internships at libraries that are members of the Metropolitan Cooperative Library Association (MCLS). For more information about the FILL program and the libraries participating, please access the FILL website at http://www.mcls.org/fill.

Information on Fall 2007 FILL Internships

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Updated: 2/21/08

All materials copyright 2001 - 2008, UCLA GSE&IS Department of Information Studies.