About the Program

The Partners Program is an innovative program that matches the career interests, backgrounds, and skills of MLIS students with the learning opportunities available at Pittsburgh’s regional libraries, archives, cultural institutions, and businesses. The program provides students with real-world experience and financial support as they earn their master’s degree in Library and Information Science.

The Partners Program supports full-time, on-campus graduate students with partial tuition scholarships for three terms based on the number of hours a student works per week. In addition, the student receives an hourly wage/stipend from the Partner institution. A student working 10 hours per week receives a 3 credit tuition scholarship each term while 20 hours of employment per week earns a 6 credit tuition scholarship. The hourly wage is determined by the Partner institution and may vary by position/institution.

To apply for the Partners Program, prospective students must complete the Student Application Form indicating an interest in participation. The Partners Program is the primary means of financial assistance within the MLIS, and no Financial Aid Application is required. For special scholarships and grant-funded student assistantships, please consult the Library and Information Science website.

As part of the Partners application, students note area of specialization and special skills. Every effort is made to match positions and students based on this information and previous work experience. However, there are no guarantees that every student who applies for the Program will be placed or that placements will match specialization. Skills and backgrounds requested by the Partner will help determine the best match for an available position and students should view all experience in the field as valuable in achieving their career goals.

Applications are accepted from September 1 to March 1 of each academic year.

This is an excellent learning opportunity…one that will enhance your resume!

Partners Testimonials

• "SIS Partners interns are found throughout the University Library System, working alongside professional librarians and archivists. They support public services at our reference desks, help advance our technology endeavors, and are actively involved with grant projects designed to preserve and provide access to unique historical collections. In short, Partners interns form a valuable component of our overall work force."
• Mike Dabrishus, ULS