I first interned at the Library of Congress under the Library’s Madison Council Internship Program, in the summer of 2004.  Because of my previous experience, and being Hispanic, I decided to intern again at the LC the summer of 2005 under the Hispanic Association of Colleges and University's National Internship Program.  I was made aware of HACU by former interns of the program who worked at the LC.  They, and several employees in the Library’s Office of Workforce Diversity, encouraged me to apply under this program especially because of the opportunity they could provide me at the conclusion of my internship.  The LC is one of few employers who has a co-op agreement with HACU to convert their interns into permanent positions after completing a certain amount of hours of work.  Therefore, at the conclusion of my internship in August, the LC offered me a temporary appointment in the Manuscript Reading Room as a reference librarian, which has now turned into a permanent position!

My advice for future interns is not to underestimate your own knowledge and abilities.  Even if you feel that you may not be qualified, just having an open mind will pave the way for success.  Take it as an opportunity to develop and grow. For me, my HACU internship experience was beneficial because it was the door to a wonderful program between HACU and The Library of Congress to promote librarianship careers in the Federal Government among Hispanics like myself.  Through your internship, you will not only learn about your organization, but also learn the value of what it means to be Hispanic.  You will gain a priceless opportunity from HACU by applying the academic knowledge and skills you have learned towards your future employment as a professional.

Lia Apodaca
Internship at Library of Congress
From 6/3/2005 to 8/13/2005

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