This document provides tips and recommendations for students to get involved in professional volunteering opportunities. It discusses how volunteering can help students expand their network, develop skills, gain leadership experience, and improve their resume and scholarship applications. Specific recommendations include getting involved in student chapters of professional organizations, serving on committees of local and national library associations, and exploring virtual volunteering and internship opportunities that allow students to gain experience remotely using technology.

1. By Katie Rapp
for SLA Maryland Chapter Job Search Workshop
March 21, 2015
Accompanying handout available under
publications tab at katierapp.wordpress.com
Or use this QR code:

2.  Professional involvement…
that looks great on your resume and scholarship
applications
 Expanding your network… build working
relationships with people in hiring positions
 Develop new skills…
focus your volunteer work where you need to
grow
 Gain leadership skills… build self-confidence

3.  Reprioritize…
find the time… it’s worth it!
 Volunteer work is flexible…
work in your free time, often from home
 Low stress…
if you take on too much, ask for help
 Meet deadlines…
be professional, but deadlines for volunteer
work can be flexible
 Improve your time management skills!

4.  Show your stuff…
demonstrate your talents
 Do your best work…
just because you’re not paid does not mean you can
cut corners
 Show initiative…
come up with new ideas
 Be creative…
stretch yourself and try new things
 Be flexible…
be friendly and easy to work with
 Dazzle them! Have fun!

5.  Demonstrates your commitment…
to being active professionally
 Shows you can work independently…
builds trust
 Shows you can work with a team…
builds professional rapport
 Tangible artifacts…
for your portfolio (reports, blog posts, projects,
artwork, etc.)

6.  Starts your career off right…
find mentors, network, opportunities for
professional development early in your career
 Creates a buzz…
about you and your abilities
 Name recognition…
people will know you by (good) reputation
 Impresses scholarship committees…
they love to see professional involvement
 Leads to more…
more opportunities (perhap$ paid!) likely to come
your way!

7.  Student organizations…
will welcome you, likely for a leadership position!
 State and local library associations…
welcome volunteers on committees
 List servs and social media…
volunteer opps may be advertised or you can
contact people who post
 Ask for advice…
find a mentor/established librarian who may have
ideas and connections

8.  Student chapters of professional organizations…
the best starting place
 Your school doesn’t have one that interests you?
start one!
 Start (or re-establish)
a student chapter of a national group OR
 Start a student group that interests YOU!
iArts, iYouth, iDiversity, etc.

9.  New Members Round Table…
ALA’s group just for you!
 State or local orgs may have student groups…
like Maryland Library Association New Members
Interest Group
 Great opportunities to find mentors, add skills,
grow!

10.  State organizations and local chapters…
tell them what interests you
 Committees of national, state and local
organizations…
endless committees all need volunteers!
 Groups that interest you…
like Careers in Federal Libraries and INALJ

11.  Intimidated?
don’t be – established librarians want to help you
 Support will be there…
rest assured that they will welcome and support
your efforts
 SLA resources for student members…
https://www.sla.org/get-involved/student-groups/
 ALA’s official welcome to student members…
get involved!
http://www.ala.org/membership/whoisala/students

12.  Don’t just be a member, be an Active
Member…
you’ll benefit from just joining professional
organizations, but really participate and you
will blossom!

13.  An oxymoron?
No, virtual volunteering is flexible and completely
feasible with today’s technology
 Virtual meetings…
Skype or Google Hangout
 Share docs…
Google Drive or Dropbox for working together
 Communicate your way…
Email, text, social media, blog, list serv

14.  What?
yes you heard right – internships, practicums
and field studies for credit can be conducted via
telework
 Why?
online students, full time jobs, family
obligations, and distance can make in person
internships difficult
 How?
much like virtual volunteering, virtual
internships can be completed in a variety of
ways using technology for work and supervision
 Where?
many libraries, including special and federal
libraries have needs that can be completed
largely or completely offsite

15.  Get something tangible out of it
internships should focus on a specific project with
a tangible result that adds to your resume and
portfolio… a presentation, a publication, an end
product

16.  Apply for scholarships
valuable not just for their cash awards…
scholarships look great on your resume and open
doors
 Focus library school projects on the real world
Use your network as resources for school projects
and get a glimpse of real world challenges and
problem solving
 Create an online portfolio
Gives more flexibility than a resume and a place
to demonstrate your creativity and show your
talents in unique ways
 Ask for informational interviews
they’re a step in the door and give you a great
way to learn about libraries, extend your
network, and possibly find internship or job
opportunities down the road

17.  http://katierapp.wordpress.com
 See handout accompanying this presentation
under the “publications” tab or use this QR Code
 See how I enhanced my resume through
volunteering…
under “resume - professional experience”
 See my virtual practicums…
under “resume highlights”
 View this powerpoint presentation
http://www.slideshare.net/wookyluvr/rapp-job-
search-workshop-panel-presentation-45839313
 Contact me any time:
rapp.mls@gmail.com