uSask University Library Introduces Aboriginal Internship

March 7, 2016

To support the University of Saskatchewan’s strategic directions, the University Library has established an Aboriginal Internship to grow the pool of Aboriginal people qualified as information / knowledge managers in the province.

From the University of Saskatchewan Library:

The University of Saskatchewan envisions our university to be one of Canada’s most distinguished, with a global impact in selected areas of academic pre-eminence. The university’s Third Integrated Plan, Promise and Potential, describes the university-wide strategies we will follow over the next four years to advance our academic priorities. This Plan articulates four areas of focus; knowledge creation, Aboriginal engagement, culture and community, and innovation in academic programs and services. Pervasive throughout the Plan is the impetus to promote, develop and enhance our institutional strengths in Aboriginal outreach and engagement.

To support the university’s strategic directions, the University Library in its Strategic Plan has identified several strategies to engage with and support the Aboriginal community, one of which is centered on growing the pool of Aboriginal people qualified as information / knowledge managers in the province.

The University Library Aboriginal Internship is envisioned to provide a unique educational and experiential opportunity for an Aboriginal person (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit) in the field of knowledge management, broadly understood as the process of strategically and critically defining, protecting, classifying and disseminating information within an organization to facilitate richer understanding and decision-making.

An Aboriginal university graduate will have the opportunity to work at, and learn about the complexities of, an academic library WHILE pursuing a fully-funded Master’s degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS) or a Masters in Knowledge Management (MKM).*

Features of this three year internship include:

• a part-time salaried position, undertaking various duties within the University Library including research and relevant project work\
• tuition paid for an online Master’s degree program
• mentorship by selected librarians and library employees
• the opportunity to learn about the work, culture, and complexities of information management in an academic library
• opportunities to engage the wider community in research and experiential activities
• a return-of-service is not required at the completion of the internship

Outcomes of the University Library Aboriginal Internship include:

• the intern will acquire a Master’s degree**, as well as valuable professional experience, positioning him/her to be successful in obtaining work in the field of information management
• the intern will build and enhance their own competencies through mentorship provided by the University Library
• through their work and studies, the intern will engage the wider university and Aboriginal communities in conversations about librarianship and information management
• the internship will raise the profile of Aboriginal programming on campus

The University Library Aboriginal Internship is anticipated to commence on July 1, 2016, however this date is negotiable.

Expressions of Interest:

For more information or to express interest in this internship, contact Jill Mierke, Director of Human Resources, University Library – jill.mierke@usask.ca or 306-966-5930. Expressions of interest will be accepted until April 30, 2016 and must include:

• a two-page (maximum) essay highlighting why the internship would be of benefit to the intern and the aboriginal community
• a resume
• official post-secondary transcripts***

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* Knowledge Management (KM) comprises a range of strategies and practices used in an organization to identify, create, represent, distribute, and enable adoption of insights and experiences. Knowledge management efforts typically focus on organizational objectives such as improved performance, competitive advantage, innovation, the sharing of lessons learned, integration and continuous improvement of the organization.

KM includes courses taught in the fields of business administration, information systems, management, and library and information sciences. More recently, other fields have started contributing to KM research, including information and media, computer science, public health, and public policy. Many large companies and non-profit organizations have resources dedicated to internal KM efforts, often as a part of their business strategy, information technology, or human resource management departments.

**There are several accredited North American universities offering MLIS studies at a distance; the Masters program will be selected by the Dean of the University Library and the intern.

***GPA is a criteria for admission to all library schools and will be a factor taken into account when selecting an intern.