Library helps UF Education students gain real-world skills

May 10, 2007

A record nine interns from the University of Florida’s College of Education spent spring semester working in local libraries. Eight of the students interned at the Alachua County Library District’s Youth Services Department while three were at Littlewood, Waldo and Stephen Foster elementary school library media centers.

“The link between libraries and the classroom is extremely important. Students get so many skills and are introduced to so many resources that they wouldn’t get in education classes,” said Linda Lamme, professor in the School of Teaching and Learning. “They see the power of literature and learn about the vast resources that libraries can provide.”

The interns are in ProTeach, a five-year elementary education program that culminates in a master’s degree in education and preparation for state certification as a classroom teacher. The students selected a children’s literature specialization that involves taking three advanced children’s literature classes and a library internship designed to introduce education students to the critical link between public or school libraries and classroom teaching

The interns typically observe and participate in children’s story times and other programming. Students learn techniques for effectively reading aloud to children, and also help with duties like staffing the reference desk, shelving books, making displays, pulling reserves and creating booklists.

“When students begin their internships, they may have difficulty understanding the way in which the library experience will integrate into their careers as teachers,” said Debbie O’Donnell, the youth services librarian who supervises the interns. “It is exciting to watch as the realization of the profound relevance dawns on them. The students begin to see the library as a crucial resource, not just for them as students, but for them as teachers.”

This year’s interns impressed O’Donnell with their desire to actively participate in the library programming, instead of just observing.

“This group seemed quite eager for more interaction with children. When I suggested they plan and execute a story time, they jumped at the chance,” she said. “The positive energy was palpable.”

Intern Lindsay Boyer said she was thrilled to lead her own story time.

“It is such a great way to have more interaction with the kids,” Boyer said. “Many of the same children come each week and it has been fun to watch them grow, so when we had the chance to be the ones at center stage entertaining them it was very rewarding.”

O’Donnell said she plans to have future interns put together a story time as part of their internship.

“It was a great experience for the students, and the patron response was very enthusiastic,” she said.

At the end of the semester, each intern created a specialized list of 20 books from the library on a topic of interest or for a specific grade level, and presented that booklist for the librarians or teachers at their placement locations.

“Watching the interns discuss the books, authors, illustrators, publishers, and values of the books on their lists convinces me that these future teachers will make full use of the many library services available in the communities where they teach,” Lamme said.