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Planning and Development

The Planning and Development Section of TSLA provides assistance to local public libraries throughout the state.  A Planning and Development section is required in all State Library agencies handling federal funding for libraries.  Seven Planning and Development staff members provide statewide consultation and leadership in the areas of library technology, grant management, library construction, statistics, collection development, cataloging of materials, legal issues, continuing education, interlibrary loan, etc. Since 1999, the Section has included the Tennessee Regional Library System, which includes nine regional library centers in various locations across the state.  The Multi-county Regional Library System has been in existence for seventy-five years, currently providing state and federal funding and professional assistance to 212 member public libraries.  The four metropolitan area libraries serving Memphis, Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Nashville are considered one-county regions and receive direct funding from the State through annual contracts. 
Five additional Network Services consultants from the Department of State’s Information Systems division are assigned to work with regional and local libraries in providing hands-on assistance with computer hardware and software and technology training.

 

Internship/Volunteer Opportunities

General Planning and Development Work
Section: Planning and Development
Project Title: General Planning and Development Administrative Work
Internship Opportunity: The Planning and Development section is looking for a motivated intern or volunteer to assist in general administrative work. Interns working with the group would have an opportunity to observe the management of the Tennessee Regional Library System. This would provide a better understanding of library technology, grant management, collection development, and continuing education.  Assignments might include updating/creating marketing materials, advertisement content (ex: TEL newspaper articles), language and design for regional newsletter, organizational filing, and generation of new promotional items.
Time Commitment: This can be an internship project for a single intern over a three-week period, working at least 20 hours per week.
Update List of Tennessee School Librarians
Section: Planning and Development
Project Title: Update List of School Librarians in the State
Volunteer Opportunity: It would be very helpful to have a way to contact all school librarians in the state. We’ve started a list, but it needs more attention. Volunteers would check the school and board of education websites, and perhaps contact school districts and private schools via email or phone, to update the list of school librarians in the state.  
Time Commitment: A volunteer coming once a week for three or four hours could be employed indefinitely, as re-assignments always occur.
Help with TEL Training Videos
Section:  Planning and Development
Project Title:  Help with training videos for TEL
Internship Opportunity: The hardest part of painting is the prep work; the hardest part of recording an online tutorial is making a script. There are several TEL services that would benefit from a step-by-step guide for first time users. The TEL Coordinator would record and narrate these online videos, but needs help writing out spoken and action scripts.
Time Commitment: An intern could work for several weeks, 20 hours a week, to develop several scripts.
Updating IP Address List of Non-Regional Libraries
Section:  Planning and Development
Project Title:  Updating list of IP Addresses for non-regional libraries
Internship Opportunity: TEL may possibly change (or add) services over the next year. One of the most important things to have ready is a list of libraries and their IP address ranges, so any additions or transfers of services will be smooth.
Time Commitment: An intern could work for 2-4 weeks, 20 hours a week, to collect this data. A volunteer could work 3-4 hours a week indefinitely, as IP Addresses are in a near-constant state of flux.
Asset Inventory and Surplus of Computers and Peripherals
Section: Planning and Development/Information Systems
Project Title: Asset Inventory and Surplus of Computers and Peripherals
Internship Opportunity: Information Systems is looking for a motivated intern or volunteer to assist with conducting inventory of computers and peripherals at TSLA. An intern or volunteer will be assigned to assist in the documentation of computer and peripheral location by diagramming the location of computers and peripherals on TSLA floor plan using Visio and updating information using Information Systems' online Microsoft Access database. The intern or volunteer will also assist in photographing, documenting surplus items.
Time Commitment: This can be project for a single intern over a one-week period, working at least 7.5 hours a day.

If you are interested in submitting an application, please click here and submit your entire application to Maggie.bahou@tn.gov

If you have questions, please email the intern/volunteer coordinator at jami.awalt@tn.gov