Supervised internship in COVID-19 time: Unochapecó Library Science experience

Abstract

Introduction: To report the experience of the Supervised Internship of the Unochapecó Library Science, which due to the Covid-19 pandemic happened remotely, is the objective that guides this short paper. Method: Through an exploratory and descriptive approach, with the application of action-research, a more in-depth analysis of the phenomenon is carried out, which included 15 students distributed in five libraries. Results: The local supervisors showed advantages such as: the improvement proposals allowed the students to think about products/services from a different angle that would probably not have been possible if the internship had taken place in person; the possibility of giving total attention to the students, being that if they were carrying out the internship in person there were other routine activities. The interns converged on: the opportunity to use new tools, to face challenges and reinvent themselves; the ability to adapt the course and the librarians to serve its users; moments of debate and meeting with the entire work team, which is considered necessary but not feasible for the institution that welcomed us if all services were at full steam. Conclusion: Although students do not experience the traditional routine of a library that involves contact with users, the dynamics used made it possible to create harmony between students, local supervisors, and the supervising teacher, which facilitated interaction and debates about the routines and activities developed in libraries, making it possible to build proposals for significant improvements for libraries.