• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

College Magazine

College Life, Dating, Career & Campus Advice

  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

You are here: Home / Career / Jobs & Internships / Book Your Future with an Internship at the Library

Book Your Future with an Internship at the Library

June 3, 2020 //  by Francesca Vultaggio

Shares13FacebookTweet

Searching for a safe space to hang after a long, incessantly boring day of class? What about finding helpful tips for your elderly neighbor eager to learn every crochet pattern in existence? Or maybe you want to bring those little kids you babysit on an expense-free adventure with just the turn of page? Look no further than your nearest library, and keep an eye out for that familiar lion mascot. In New York, libraries represent the cornerstones of our neighborhoods. The New York Public Library system (or NYPL) operates in Manhattan, Staten Island and the Bronx, and offers a unique variety of interests, information and activities for patrons of all ages. Eager to intern someplace where stacks of books, story-time and enriched interactions with your community equal a day’s work? Apply for a Library Page position and gain priceless knowledge and life experience, all the while enjoying the pleasure of free books and free Wi-Fi (yes, please!).

Check out CM’s Guide to a Library Internship here.

What it’s actually like

woman standing in library stacks putting books away
giphy.com

Picture dealing with more books than you even can imagine, squishing them into your own bookshelf, then quadruple that amount. Now you discovered a pretty good idea of what Library Pages do every day. Library Pages are responsible for organizing, shelving and categorizing all returned or new library books and audio devices on a regular basis. “Our job is not only limited to performing tasks such as shelving books as some people at first think. We help every person that walks through the doors of the library, whether it is to find the information or book they are searching for, or if it is about a program they might be interested in,” said Sophia Kobzarenko, a Library Page and sophomore at Baruch College. Add on other important literary duties, and pages stand out as an invaluable resource to keeping your library in tip-top shape.

Cool stuff you get to do

sam Puckett saying books are like tvs in your head
giphy.com

Contrary to popular belief, modern libraries disprove the stereotype of angry librarians shushing you and commanding complete silence. As a Page, you get to participate in exciting programs like the New Dorp Library’s Anti-Prom in Staten Island or Crafternoon programs in the Bronx, along with assisting in special events like zoo visits, book clubs and painting workshops. Guest speaker and author visits, adult arts and crafts and musical guests all encapsulate the entertaining side of what Page life offers. Even better, Page internships allow you to develop memorable friendships with others, especially ones with fellow Pages and volunteers that work alongside you. “After school, I didn’t want to go home. I went to the library instead,” said library volunteer and rising college freshman JJ Auckerman. “It was another home to me, and I have so many fond memories with the staff.” Just like books, libraries offer more than what meets the eye; so, apply!

What you’ll learn

kiera knightly reading a book outside
giphy.com

By scoring a Library Page position, you’ll learn the ins and outs of libraries, like how to arrange books by category or title (remember the Dewey Decimal System? Yeah, he’s still kicking). Pretty soon you’ll find yourself edging the books in your home into perfect alignment, and acing those Jeopardy categories about how to systematically classify cookbooks and biographies. Pages also help find books that patrons return and put on hold, in addition to assisting other library staff with fun programs and crafts. Most importantly, Pages gain a lifelong understanding of the world around them, especially through daily communication with patrons. “I’ve learned a lot about myself and my community and I’m truly grateful for the time I have had at NYPL. I have decided to study Library Sciences for my Master’s degree to acquire a better understanding of how to best serve the literary needs of my community,” said Ashley Dirzis, a Library Page and graduate of the College of Staten Island. Applying for a Page position indicates just another way to ensure that your future is booked (bear with these necessary library puns).

How to prepare for your application

group of friends putting their hands together in teamwork
giphy.com

When applying for a Page internship, submit your info online at the NYPL website. If you plan to apply to your beloved neighborhood spot, stop by and introduce yourself to the staff with a resume in hand. “For pages, I look for someone who catches on quickly, takes initiative, works well in a fast-paced environment, and works well with others,” said Staten Island’s New Dorp Library Manager Colleen Chioffe. “Having the skill to do the job is important, but equally important is how well they get along with other staff members and how well they all work together.” Cooperation and team-building represent essential assets for library interns; while it couldn’t hurt to own a library card, either.

Skills that impress them

woman saying she has people skills because she is a person
giphy.com

Computer knowledge, proficiency in organizing, and above all: people skills. More often than not, Library Pages need to small talk it up with the help of some undeniable teamwork abilities. “Volunteer opportunities and collaborations in community projects build life-long bonds between young adults and teens,” said Jennifer Gaeta, an NYPL Young Adult Information Assistant and Program Coordinator. By working with patrons of all ages, Pages acquire integral customer service skills, those of which earn serious brownie points on a resume. One more thing? The ability to provide book recommendations to patrons proves another much-needed advantage when interviewing for the job (even if you plan to suggest to every eighth-grade patron the importance of reading the Twilight saga).

Cool perks

Rachel green saying she's going to get a job
giphy.com

Interning at a library is the quintessential job for those eager to move on to Library Science, Education, English, History or Communications fields. Page internships can open doors for several future positions, especially those involving books, public relations or even dealing with children or young adults. Another cool perk? You can discover a new knack and appreciation for something that was once just a hobby. “I love working with little kids, [making] them laugh and smile,” said Martha Moffit, who discovered her calling as an NYPL Children’s Librarian. “The best thing is when I see them learning the words to a new song or dance that I introduced them to during Music and Movement.” Who knows? Maybe helping tutor a patron jumpstarts your career path towards a field in Secondary Education, or ogling at the new releases each day inspires a move towards Publishing.

The deets

Sabrina carpenter singing holding books
giphy.com

In order to become a Page, you must fit their full-time student requirement. High school, college or grad school counts, and you must provide a transcript for proof. After school, you may even transition into a library assistant with a couple of years on the job and loads of experience up your sleeve. To urge you in the direction of applying, add in 14 hours a week, a pay-grade of minimum wage (NYC minimum wage boasts fifteen dollars an hour), and the proud feeling that comes with contributing to such a vital community platform. A Library Page internship symbolizes the first step in creating a long-lasting impact on both your resume and in your community. “I hope more and more people realize the importance of libraries,” Kobzarenko said. “When they reopen, [the public] will value them even more.” Like Hermione Granger famously declares, “When in doubt, go to the library!” Sounds like a plan, Hermione.

Shares13FacebookTweet

Filed Under: Jobs & Internships

About Francesca Vultaggio

Francesca is a senior studying English and Communications at St. John’s University. She is an avid lover of early 2000s pop culture and cheesy YA novels, and would always rather be somewhere dancing at a concert.

You May Also Like

cake

A Look into Laila Maali’s Journey at the Givelight Foundation

Gainesville Internships

10 Popular Internships Up for Grabs in Gainesville for UF Students

boss

The Brightside of Being Judged: Surviving Your Next Performance Review

Barcelona Birds Eye View

Paid Internships Abroad: Five Tips To Stand Out From Real Students

courtroom

CM’s Guide to Working at a Non-Profit Law Firm

resume styles

College Magazine’s Guide to Resume Styles for Landing the Job

corporate

7 Insider Tips on How to Climb the Corporate Ladder

career development

How Your College Career Center Can Land You a Job During COVID-19

how to become a software engineer

College Magazine’s Guide to Becoming a Software Engineer

10 Tips and Tricks to Help You Find a Paid Summer Internship

Overview of three people at a desk working

Work in the Way? 10 Guilt-Free Reasons To Leave Your Job

10 Office Ethics Commandments That Apply to Daily Life

10 Ways to Get Closer to Finding the Internship of Your Dreams

how to quit a job

Don’t Be THAT Employee: How to Quit a Job the Right Way

How to Ask for a Raise Without Sounding Rude AF

Finance Managers

Become the Next Warren Buffett: CM’s Guide to Portfolio Management

business cards

How to Make Business Cards Too Pretty to Toss Out

peace corps

Top 10 Well-Kept Secrets to Succeeding in the Peace Corps

15 Things to Know Before Your Next Phone Interview

online portfolio

10 Steps to Building an Impressive Online Portfolio in 2020

starting a side hustle

Starting a Side Hustle in College: Five Steps You Need to Take

a computer with code on the screen

College Magazine’s Guide to the Information Science Major

Summer Internship

The Ultimate Guide to Summer Internships [Take Action with 4 Steps that Make it Easy]

internships

How To Make Your Internship Work For You

Previous Post: « How to Become a General Manager for Your Favorite Sports Team
Next Post: 10 STEM Fields of the Future »

Primary Sidebar



Trending Posts

dancing dreams
76

Saying Goodbye to My Dreams of Dancing

50

Stargazing in the Sand: My Trip to Terlingua, Texas

42

How My Childhood Bully Followed Me to College

10

Top 10 Covid-19 Safe Spots to Explore Near UCLA

Brass-colored 21 foil balloons inside a room.
8

10 Spots to Celebrate Your 21st Birthday Near UCLA

Featured Chapter: St. John’s University

Footer

logo

College Magazine is the national daily guide to campus life. Our articles for college students feature university rankings of U.S. colleges, college guides, academic advice, college prep, career advice, student health and collegiate dating tips.

Written by students for students, by a team of journalists from universities nationwide, we’re on the pulse of the college experience.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Colleges

  • College Guides
  • College Rankings
  • Campus life
  • Academics
  • Dating
  • Freshmen Year
  • Health
  • Party

Majors

  • All College Majors
  • Most Popular Majors
  • Choosing a Major

Intern

  • Internships Directory
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • How to Interview
  • How to Get an Internship
  • How to Network

Money

  • How to Make Money
  • How to Save Money
  • How to Get a Job
  • Credit Cards 101
  • College Loans

Travel

  • Study Abroad
  • College Spring Break
  • How to Travel Cheap
  • Things to Do

Shop

  • College Packing List
  • Gift Guides
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

Copyright © 2021 College Magazine · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc.