Emerging Professional Fellowship: Library

Description

The Emerging Professional Fellowship in the Library offers a full-time, year-long position designed for recent graduates and graduate students of Saint Mary’s College pursuing careers in libraries. This program supports the growth of early-career professionals by providing hands-on experience, mentorship, and opportunities for personalized learning.

Fellows work closely with library leadership to define their individual learning and professional goals. They develop a flexible plan with clear milestones, expectations, and a timeline. Throughout the year, fellows receive guidance and support through regular meetings, professional development resources, and access to expert staff and materials. The fellowship concludes with a public presentation of a culminating project developed during the program.

The Library Fellow will gain experience working with analog and digital collections and help expand access to the library’s resources and services. Under the mentorship of librarians and specialists, fellows contribute to digital initiatives and explore ways to support learning and research within the Saint Mary’s community.

Collection Management

Responsible for contributing to the library's Collection Development and Periodicals Department by performing routine periodical and book processing. Assist with processing materials and cataloging.

Assist in creating labels for print collections and visual media. Apply labels and prepare books and visual media for the public, responsible for final quality control and accuracy. Prepare the “Popular Reading” collection for public use. 

Carry out routine mending services and participate in other preservation/conservation-related activities, such as monitoring the collection for mold, insect, or water damage and repairing and mending books and materials as needed.

Access Services

This position collaborates with Access Services staff to provide lending services and ensure library patrons access to all materials, devices, media equipment, and circulating materials. Support the SMC community by staffing our Library Service Desk, managing daily interlibrary loan processing and shelving, and participating in library operations. 

Provide accurate, timely, and courteous service that respects patron needs, strengthens the educational experience, and contributes to student success.

Collaborate with the Access Services Team to maintain adequate staffing levels to provide excellent service during library hours, including semester and summer breaks.

Outreach and Engagement

Engage in designing and implementing outreach and engagement activities focused on the student experience. 

Responsibilities include: 

• Designing and posting digital and paper flyers
• Creating content (photos, graphics, and videos) for the library’s social media accounts, including Instagram stories and posts
• Ensuring accessibility of content posted (e.g., alt-text, listing accommodations on posters)
• Representing the library at campus fairs and prospective-student events
• Outreach to relevant campus departments and clubs
• Providing ideas on how to reach and support undergraduate and graduate students with a diversity of backgrounds and needs (collecting data to inform these ideas if needed)
• Designing contests, surveys, and events to promote student engagement
• Option to assist with research workshops/tours as needed

College Archives

Assist the college archivist with managing and maintaining the library's physical archives collection and promoting access for research purposes. Responsibilities include working on archives projects, including data entry, scanning, and other archival operations, mainly done independently.

Library Administration

Collaborate with the Dean of the Library and Academic Resources on various projects and initiatives focused on student success and the student experience. Participates in Library Team meetings and collaborates with library committees. Stays informed about current trends in the library field by attending workshops as needed to maintain and enhance skills and job knowledge. Specific duties will be developed based on the interests of the fellow.

Professional Development

Explore professional development opportunities in the field of library science. Participation in professional organizations, training, workshops, and conference attendance will be supported. 

Museum of Art

Work with the Museum of Art staff to gain experience in museums, art, information systems, and event management. A wide range of assignments and responsibilities is available and will be assigned based on the fellow's areas of interest for their culminating project.

Requirements

Recent graduate of Saint Mary's College (BA or BS).

Requirements

• Clear written and verbal communication skills
• Organization skills
• Experience working in the Saint Albert Hall Library 
• Able to follow written directions and integrate constructive feedback
• Interest in the professional field of Library Science
• Self-motivated and proactive

Preferred

• Experience with Canva or other design tools
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule 
• Active participant in student groups and campus life