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Edmon Low Library

Internships at the Heart of Campus

Since 2005, the OSU Library has hosted a robust internship program that now spans multiple units and provides career experience for students entering the fields of art, strategic communications, history and more. Listed here are the many internship opportunities that have been available at the OSU Library. To see what internships are hiring now, visit our open internships page.

What to Expect

  • Work with a faculty or staff mentor who will guide your work and provide career advice.
  • Contribute to the assigned unit at the level expected of an entry-level professional.
  • Apply creativity to solve problems and develop new approaches to your assignments.
  • Produce professional-level work suitable for portfolio samples.
  • Develop skills relevant to the field of work.

Impact

Most of the alumni of the Library's internship program have gone on to build careers in their areas of study. Former interns now work in advertising and communications firms, other higher education communications units, nonprofits, online marketing companies, sports communications, and major event venues. Here's what some of our alumni say about the program:

Fantastic! Magical! Perfect! — Mere words cannot express my amazing intern experience at Edmon Low Library. This in-house communications team covers all bases of the design job. The exciting ways that Bonnie and the team integrate creativity, communication and group effort keep you on your toes and focused on making the best work you can do. The internship has the perfect amount of deadline pressure and client relationships, truly preparing you for “real-world” experience. What really made me thrilled to go to work every day was the amount of creative freedom and confidence that the communications team put in my ability to execute form and function while staying on brand. There is truly no other experience at Oklahoma State that compares to working with the positive and respectable people of Edmon Low.

Amelia Clark, Graphic Design Intern fall 2015 to spring 2016

Being a Library communications intern was by far the best “real world” prep I could have received before graduating and getting my first job. On top of the many communications skills I gained, the Library internship provided a positive office environment to collaborate and develop creative teamwork skills. To this day, I still look back on my internship experience as guidance for projects and tasks in my current role. The Library internship positions are more like “real jobs" than internships because you get hands-on experience in a variety of areas, while also learning and discovering where you want to grow. The countless skills I gained at the Library will stay with me for the continuation of my career.

Kristin Underwood, Social Media Intern fall 2014 to spring 2015

Working at the OSU Library as a graphic design intern prepared me so much for the real world. I had experiences during this internship that mirrored real world projects with clients more so than I ever expected. Not only was I able to learn how to handle clients and deadlines, but the technical and production skills tremendously benefited me during my first job. It wasn't until after I graduated and experienced working in the design industry that I realized how much of an impact this internship had on my career. Not only was the experience worthwhile to my portfolio, but I learned how to work in a professional environment that treats its employees with care and respect. I would recommend and encourage any designer to apply for an internship with the library, it was by far the best decision I made as a student!

Kala McDonald, Graphic Design Intern fall 2014 to spring 2015

My time as an intern at the OSU Library prepared me for life after graduation more than any other internship, job or class did. It gave me a chance to use and apply what I learned in the classroom in a professional environment. I was able to get a taste for a variety of areas within the strategic communications field - from writing press releases to helping plan major fundraisers to managing a professional social media presence. These experiences were invaluable to employers after I graduated, and my standard for my first full time job was an office where I could grow as much and feel as comfortable as I did at the Library.

Emily Nielsen, Social Media (Public Outreach) Intern fall 2011 to spring 2013

I owe where I am in my career now to my time interning at the Edmon Low Library. I am thankful for the work ethic, interview skills, and real world design experience I gained. The library atmosphere encourages finding new solutions and expanding knowledge beyond your field

Ruth Mudroch, Graphic Design Intern spring 2008 to spring 2009