Calvert Library "In the News": Human Library featured at Calvert Library Prince Frederick on Oct. 28 (press release)

Calvert Library Hosted Interns This Summer

October 18, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Robyn Truslow
410-535-0291

Calvert Library participated in a connected learning internship program this summer sponsored by the Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). Through its Inclusive Internship Initiative (III), PLA sponsored paid, mentored public library internships for 50 high school juniors and seniors from diverse backgrounds. With individual guidance from a mentor, each intern engaged in multiple facets of library life, from administration to programming to user services.

Calvert Library selected Le’Andre Campbell and Robin Freedland as interns for summer 2017. Mr. Campbell is a junior at Calvert High School this fall and Ms. Freeland is a senior at Huntingtown High School. The selections were made based on the students’ academic standing, application essay, letter of recommendation and an interview. Primary library mentors were Circulation Supervisor Megan Jones and Public Services Librarian Tiffany Sutherland. Campbell, Freeland and Jones traveled to Washington, D.C., for III’s summer kick-off event.

Over the course of the summer, interns and mentors developed a project to benefit the community. Both interns have a passion for social justice and a belief in the importance of dialogue, and their projects reflect that. Mr. Campbell developed an event called “Unity for the Community Speed Discussion for Teens” that was held September 26 at Calvert Library Prince Frederick. Teens viewed short video clips on various social issues and then discussed one-on-one in a casual “speed networking” format. Ms. Freeland is developing a small Human Library modeled on The Human Library ™ project, an initiative “designed to build a positive framework for conversations that can challenge stereotypes and prejudices through dialogue…real people are on loan to readers…difficult questions are expected, appreciated and answered.” Ms. Freeland’s “books” will be available for in-house checkout on Saturday, October 28, from 1-4pm at Calvert Library Prince Frederick. She is recruiting “human books” with a variety of experiences and backgrounds who are willing to talk to strangers about themselves. Please register on the library website (www.calvertlibrary.info) or call 410-535-0291, if you are interested in checking out a human book.

When Ms. Freeland was asked what she had gained from her experience at the library, she said, “I didn’t realize how busy librarians are. They do just about everything and then more! Being an intern doesn’t just let me see what a librarian’s day is like; it also gave me some life skills that I can use beyond the library like leadership skills and a good work ethic. I have really high hopes that my project can make a difference in people’s lives for the better and change the mindset of how we perceive others. I believe with one human library at a time, we can all learn to get along and not be afraid to talk to one another just because we think we’re different.”

Mr. Campbell agreed that the library was a busier place than he expected and he added, “The library has been a great resource. I plan to be a teacher because I want to be a role model for other African American young people. I met someone at a library event whose organization is working to increase the number of Black teachers in Calvert County and he has asked that we work together towards that goal.”

The internship program was funded by PLA with support from a pre-professional Laura Bush 21^st Century Librarian Program Grant (grant RE-00-17-0129-17) from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Additional information about the Inclusive Internship Initiative can be found at https://apply.ala.org/plinterns.

For more information, call Robyn Truslow at 410-535-0291.

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