SILS graduate student Yanjuan Zou is one of 19 fellows selected to participate in the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) 2011 Career Enhancement Program.
The ARL Career Enhancement Program, funded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services and ARL member libraries, gives MLIS students from underrepresented groups an opportunity to jump-start their careers in research libraries by providing a robust fellowship experience that includes an internship in an ARL member library. This program reflects the commitment of ARL members to create a diverse research library community that will better meet the challenges of changing demographics in higher education and the emphasis on global perspectives in the academy.
"As part of my fellowship experience, I had the chance to attend the ARL Leadership Symposium in San Diego, CA," said an excited Zou. "It was a wonderful event where I met many successful librarians and fellow graduate students with diverse backgrounds. ARL attempts to help the fellows obtain a brighter career in any possible aspect," Zou added.
The Career Enhancement Program has four main components: a six- to twelve-week internship experience in an ARL library, mentoring by a professional librarian at the host institution, participation in the ARL Leadership Symposium and career placement assistance. The host institutions for the internships are:
- University of Arizona
- University of California, San Diego
- Columbia University
- University of Kentucky
- National Library of Medicine
- North Carolina State University
- University of Washington
Zou will be completing her fellowship at the University of Arizona, Tucson, where she will be partnered with a mentor librarian as she works on the University of Arizona Libraries RSS team, gaining valuable professional work experience in the process.
