“Before I started the internship, I worried that the duties would be similar to what I’d already done as a library services assistant,” said Bagne, who worked in children’s services during her summer 2008 internship. “But my supervisor went out of her way to give me librarian duties and treat me as a colleague.”

Bagne’s librarian duties during her internship included weeding the children’s collection, organizing the reading program, and helping with a special relabeling project. As far as treating her like a colleague, Bagne’s fellow librarians really invested their time to get to know her and even surprised her with a going-away party.

“The professional contacts I developed during the internship were invaluable,” she said. “Both my supervisor and the branch manager promised me further professional advice, and they’ve kept open the lines of communication.”

Bagne, who graduated spring 2009, had considered specializing in children’s services since she enrolled in the San José State University School of Information graduate program. Her internship at Elk Grove “aligned with my original intention and served to strengthen my resolve,” she said.