Type of Site:
A wide variety of learning situations may be arranged in order to contribute to the professional development of the student. The purpose for most students is to experience work in a type of library or in a specialization that contributes to their academic and career goals. The field placement is not a part-time job. It is an academic course, and the learning goals in the Field Experience Agreement should reflect the educational intentions of the program.
Graduate Assistantships:
If a graduate assistantship or work-study assignment shows promise of providing an opportunity for professional orientation and professional growth beyond the normal reponsibilities included in the assistantship, it may be used as the site location. The student should indicate on the Site Intention Statement the relationship of the assistantship to his/her educational goals. The student's faculty advisor will determine whether or not the assistantship site is appropriate for the field experience requirements.
Consultant Field Experiences:
It is possible that in unusual circumstances a field experience may be developed between a site and the school where there is no professional information specialist or librarian to serve as Site Supervisor. In this instance, the student would serve as a consultant to the institution, organization, agency, business or industry. Advising the student will be the sole responsibility of the school. Situations that place the student in this type of role will occasionally be arranged, in a manner that avoids exploitation of the student and that supports the operation of information centers and libraries without the services of a fully qualified specialist.
Before such an arrangement can be approved a careful evaluation of the site, including a visit, must first be completed by a faculty member and the Field Experience Coordinator. There will be no Site Supervisor, but a site administrator must be designated and must agree to be responsible for the student.
The site administrator must agree to orient the student to the institution
or agency and to spend time with the student interpreting the work of the
agency. The student will be expected to complete such other projects or
observations as are deemed necessary by the Faculty Supervisor and the FE
Coordinator. Other considerations in this type of field experience are:
Field Experience Outside the Triangle Area:
Students may arrange a field work experience away from the immediate Triangle area. As neither the FE Coordinator nor the Faculty Supervisor may be able to visit the site, communication among all parties involved throughout the experience should be frequent and regular, by phone, e-mail or mail. Attendance at the field experience seminars may be delayed until the semester following the experience, if distance and time make the commute unfeasible.
Site Selection:
Sites will be identified in a variety of ways. Some librarians and information professionals will hear about the program and will volunteer. The school will identify potential agencies and solicit their participation. Students will identify specific sites and will request permission to use the site. All new sites will be reviewed in person or by telephone to review their potential for participation in the program.