Restocking the shelves, redirecting many students to resources, and checking out books are just a few responsibilities of the Upper School (US) Almy Library interns, a group of sophomores, juniors, and seniors selected to help manage and improve the Library. Rather than socializing with friends or starting on homework, library interns spend one free block a week behind the Library’s front desk to help run a space frequented by students and faculty alike.
US Librarians Maggie Kelleher and Shawnee Sloop started the program three years ago, bringing the idea from their previous schools. Their initial goal was to establish a way for students to volunteer in the Library during their free time, which has since evolved into the internship program.
The program is also a way for the librarians to be able to hear students’ perspectives, Ms. Sloop said.
“Sometimes they’ll be very honest and say, ‘We don’t think that will work.’ Or they will say, ‘We love it, but maybe you could tweak it a little bit.’ So, it’s really helpful for us with new programming, new events, challenges, and activities to be able to be run it by students when it comes to doing things within the library.”
The librarians, however, are not the only ones who benefit from the interns’ work, Ms. Sloop said.
“It’s great to have students sitting at the library desk because it can be more approachable for them to have a peer to ask a question to, rather than another adult,” she said. “I think this approachability just further permeates outwards into the school community because students get comfortable with us and the space, and that enhances community ties. It promotes the Library if students like being here. Having interns who want to be here helps further that.”
Finn Konary ’26 spends his E block on Tuesdays interning at the Library. The first thing he does is check in with the librarians to start his shift. Then, he makes himself available for tasks ranging from loaning students computers to helping them find the word of the day. Finn likes the responsibilities of being a library intern, he said.
“You’re what people see when they walk into the Library, so you have to be a friendly face. You are really a central part of upholding the image of the library.”
Arjun Shroff ’26, one of last year’s library interns, said he was interested in the program because he wanted to impact the US community.
“It’s nice to feel like I can help people find things,” he said. “The biggest thing that people ask for is materials or things that they don’t have access to, like staplers. So I’d say being able to give kids that and help them with projects is kind of a nice feeling. It’s nice to just definitely feel like I’m contributing a little bit, even if it’s only one free a week.”
Ms. Kelleher said she hopes students take advantage of the Library’s available resources to explore their curiosity.
“The interns will get out of it what they put into it,” she said. “So we’ve had interns who express an interest in learning about the financial aspects of running a library. We’ve had interns interested in the event planning side, and we’re always open and happy to sit with them and kind of walk them through, ‘Well, here’s how we manage our budget. Here’s what it looks like to complete a budget report.’ These are skills that might come up in any type of job or field that they go into.”
Through the internship program, Ms. Kelleher hopes students will become more comfortable and confident working with others, she said.
“I want them to get a sense of empowerment out of the position. To feel like, ‘Oh, I am capable of doing these things, and my voice matters,’ and that they can have input into the programming and things that go on in the Library.”
Applications for new library interns will close on October 2, and Ms. Sloop and Ms. Kelleher plan to begin interviews. In the following weeks, the Library will welcome back interns, new and old.
