Career Accelerator Internship
Queens Public Library
Innovation Synopsis
In fall 2023, Queens Public Library introduced the Career Accelerator Internship, a seven-week seminar and training program for part-time staff members to explore future careers as public librarians. CAI cultivates a pipeline of entry-level and mid-career talent with an institutional affinity and knowledge of librarianship at Queens Public Library, with the goal of developing a viable pool of future librarians.
A cohort of 16 part-time QPL employees participated in six hours of moderated individual and panel discussions with library professionals, six hours of professional development training; 10 to 20 hours of career coaching with a contingent of 20 staff librarians who offered insight, guidance, and hands-on experience focused on different aspects of librarianship and customer service. This curriculum/model/approach allowed participants to speak with multiple coaches, visit several locations, and experience different styles of work and interaction within Queens communities.
Challenge/Opportunity
Queens Public Library faced the challenge of developing an engagement model that offered a front-row seat to librarianship through positive and critical perspectives on the profession; provided a meaningful experience for all parties; encouraged part-time workers to invest significant time to explore future careers; and enlist the buy-in and support of existing staff to serve as content experts, trainers, and mentors willing to share their knowledge during the normal workday.
This challenge offered the opportunity to "accelerate” the understanding and affinity of public librarianship and libraries as experienced by our staff. CAI offered the rare chance to involve internal and external collaborators to showcase public service and demonstrate how the unique ecosystem of an institution that serves NYC’s borough of Queens, arguably the most diverse area in the world which is home to 2.3 million residents – half of whom were born outside the U.S., and speak 138+ languages and dialects.
Key Elements of Innovation
CAI was made possible by the willing involvement of multiple contributors with the belief that future library professionals could be found within QPL and should be nurtured and guided by their colleagues.
Key innovations included:
Moderated individual and panel discussions with library professionals on topics such as children, young adults, and general librarianship; working with library patrons; information resources 101, community learning in urban libraries, and reaching new audiences through marketing and communications.
Workshops that promote personal and professional growth, such as cultural competency, program planning, “Readers Advisory 101,” and community outreach techniques.
Career coaching with staff librarians and gaining on-the-job experience at several locations to learn different work styles and possess interactions within various communities.
Available sign language interpreters to assist during workshops and coaching sessions.
Achieved Outcomes
The Career Accelerator Internship successfully connected part-time employees seeking to explore possible careers at Queens Public Library, with opportunities to learn and strengthen their understanding about the unique ecosystem of the institution. Eighty-one percent of participants and 60 percent of career coaches responded to a satisfaction survey rating their overall experience as excellent or good.
Some comments included:
“The weekly meetings and the coaching are important! I loved having the sessions to be able to learn about all the departments in QPL. Coaching is great for hands on and location experience and getting to meet more people in QPL.” (Participant)
“There were a variety of goals that were expressed to me by the mentees, with all of them interested in various parts of the library field. I'm hoping that more candidates are aware and able to join the program in the future.” (Coach)
