California State Library

I’ve been interning at the California State Library since December (2015) of my Sophomore year of high school. I have been working on the Maynard Dixon Collection and have learned about so much of this historical artist. I have enjoyed the work I’ve been doing and the history I have found in it too.

Volunteering with the California State Library was a very fulfilling experience; I seriously looked forward to volunteering there every week. Having recently started a new job in another organization, I am saddened that I no longer have the time to volunteer at the CSL. The CSL staff are very welcoming and treat volunteers with a sense of organizational inclusion that I have not experienced in other volunteer endeavors; the experience was a very mutually supportive arrangement. For example, as a Masters of Library and Information Science student, the professionals at the CSL were very eager and willing to assign me projects that were not only beneficial to the organization, but challenging and offered professional growth opportunities. Finally, the library's visually stunning architecture and rare/unique holdings were an added bonus. I highly recommend volunteering with the CSL!

The State Library is a wonderful place to volunteer. The employees go out of their way to make volunteers feel welcome and included in learning about the library's mission and its day-to-day operations. Volunteers will enjoy the historic setting and discover buried treasures in the stacks! Additionally, if you are a candidate for or currently working as a library tech or librarian, you will definitely gain valuable experience and exposure to a variety of related duties such as collection development/management, weeding, government publications, cataloging, archives, and preservation. The Braille and Talking Book Library is also a great place to learn and work as you serve a very deserving and appreciate population. I highly recommend this organization.

I really enjoy volunteering at the State Library. It is a very interesting place and the employees that I have worked with are very encouraging and kind. Also, the State Library in a beautiful building and has lots of great treasures to see.