Applications Open Now for the 2024/2025 Academic Year
The School of Social Work in collaboration with the Allegheny County Library Association and others are supporting a Library Social Work Fellowship. This fellowship is for fall and spring semesters and will place social work students in public libraries to assist with community outreach and assessment, information & referrals on human service resources, provide basic case support as needed, and support programs/activities to respond to community needs, particularly in areas of social services, mental health, health/social determinants of health, and other specific to the library service area and populations.
About ACLA
The Allegheny County Library Association (ACLA) is a federated library system of 46 public libraries delivering service in more than 70 locations. Member Libraries include the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, which has 19 locations, and 45 other libraries and their branches located outside the City of Pittsburgh throughout Allegheny County. Each library is independent and has its own board of directors; as a consortium they share a countywide catalog, jointly offer downloadable books, audios, and videos as well as online databases, and provide a diverse calendar of programming events. The eiNetwork supports the automated library operations, Internet access, and free Wi-Fi services available at all county libraries. Through its coordination, ACLA expands the resources of local libraries beyond what they could accomplish individually.
Program Benefits
Training Stipend
- $3500 Generalist Students
- $6000 Specialized Practice/ Advanced Standing
Practicum Placement Options
Students will complete their practicum placement at an affiliated library within Allegheny County.
Internship Description/Duties
Library Social Work interns can perform these and other roles at their public library internship site:
- Provide basic information and referral on social/human service resources, mental health supports, health and social determinants of health, crisis supports, and other resource specific to library community service area and populations and their needs;
- Provide basic case assessment support to library patrons around information and referral per above to allow for community level follow-up as needed - however, this will be only short term case support;
- Assist Library staff in community outreach and assessment, as well as analysis of those assessments relative to library programs and activities;
- Assist in developing and conducting programs and activities in response to community needs, especially in areas of mental health, health/social determinants of health, human/social service issues, children and youth, employment & education/training, among other areas as identified.
- Perform other duties in support of library community programming, outreach, special events, fundraising, and related activities that help students understand community, organization, and patron context of the library.
Participation Commitments:
Ongoing participation is crucial to the success of this training program. Students are required to attend a monthly seminar (meeting) with their peers. Attendance at these seminars is mandatory and will count towards student’s total practicum hours. Students will also participate in weekly supervision sessions and other educational events and opportunities as available. Students will complete an end of year presentation to faculty and community partners
Eligibility
Full time students enrolled in the MSW or BASW Program. Most library sites are Generalist Placements. There are a limited number of Specialized Practice sites. Any interested student is encouraged to apply. This fellowship does not fulfill the requirements for any of the specialized practice DP certificates.
Application Requirements
- Updated Resume
- Cover Letter addressed to Ms. Katrina Mink. Within your statement, please include the following:
- Why are you specifically interested in library social work?
- What should the role of a library be in today's society?
- How do social workers help this role?
- What does it mean to truly "meet people where they are"?
- List of 2 professional or academic references
- Complete online application
Timeline
- Applications are now being accepted for the 2024/2025 academic year
- Initial application deadline is March 1 after which applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until positions are filled
Contact Information
Alicia Melnick, MSW, LCSW
Phone 412-624-4071
Email ada65@pitt.edu