Evaluation of a health sciences internship for Latino and Native American library students

Abstract

Purpose: This paper presents a qualitative evaluation of a graduate-level internship for Latino and Native American library science students or students who are interested in serving those populations.

Methods: The authors analyzed semi-structured interviews with thirteen internship program graduates or participants.

Results: The analysis suggests that the program increased participants’ interest in health sciences librarianship and led to improved career opportunities, both in health sciences libraries and other libraries with health information programming. It also highlights specific factors that are likely to contribute to the strength of career pipeline programs aiming to bring Latino and Native American students and students who are interested in serving those communities into health librarianship.

Conclusions: Exposing graduate-level interns to a broad range of health sciences librarianship tasks, including outreach to Latino and Native American communities and formal mentorship, is likely to maximize interns’ interests in both health sciences librarianship and service to these communities.