In the spring of 2025, the Library’s catalog unit was approached with the possibility of an internship program with the Spanish department, paid for through the Mellon Grant Fellowship. The Library began developing an internship partnership with the College of Arts and Humanities, led by Dr. María Dolores Morillo. What began as a simple pilot effort turned into a wonderful experience and an incredible asset to the cataloging unit.
We selected Spanish-fluent interns with the idea that they would assist in copy cataloging the Spanish-language materials in the Quiñones-Keber Collection. After interviews, we selected two outstanding students, María Pizano Pizano and Alondra Muratalla Farias, both Spanish majors with a passion for language, culture, and learning.
The interns began their program with us at the start of the fall semester. Before joining us, they completed the Library Juice Introduction to Cataloging course as preparation for the more rigorous, hands-on training provided by Rebecca Reid-Johansson and Fong Moua. Rebecca worked closely with them throughout the training process, while Boutsaba developed a comprehensive Canvas training module that covered essential tools and applications, including the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC), basic cataloging standards, and our library management system called Alma.
Through guidance from our cataloging staff and librarians, María and Alondra supported the copy cataloging of Spanish materials from the Quiñones-Keber Collection while also providing technical processing, making valuable contributions to our ongoing work.
This internship not only helped advance our cataloging projects but also created meaningful opportunities for learning, mentorship, and collaboration between the Library and the College of Arts and Humanities. María and Alondra have set a new standard for what such partnerships can achieve. We appreciate their enthusiasm, dedication, and curiosity in the cataloging unit, and we’ve learned as much from them as they have from us. We eventually hired them to be part of our student assistants’ team going forward.
To celebrate their accomplishments, we asked them three questions to help them reflect on their experiences with us.
-Boutsaba Janetvilay, librarian
Lead of the Catalog and Metadata Unit
Maria Pizano Pizano
What drew you to select our library for their internship?
When I started college, I wrote about my favorite career in case I had the opportunity to pursue it, and I chose to become a librarian. Because working as a librarian was something I wanted to do at one point in my life. For this reason, I didn’t hesitate to apply for this internship when I learned about the opportunity from my Prof. María Dolores Morillo. Additionally, studying and working in the same place helps me feel safe and manage my time.
What aspects of cataloging did you enjoy or find challenging?
What I enjoy about this internship is learning different skills involved in cataloging books. Some aspects of cataloging that I found challenging were my class assignments because I try to do these for myself first, and bring theory to practice. I enjoy working with materials in my first language (Spanish).
What have you learned, and would you consider pursuing a career in library work?
This internship allowed me to learn how to catalog books in a broad, systematic range, and to apply this learning at the Fresno State Library using OCLC and Alma, in the Quiñones Kiber Collection, including label books and repair books of the same collection. Furthermore, this internship motivated me to pursue a career in the Library because this kind of work is what I enjoy.
Alondra Muratalla Farias
What drew you to select our library for their internship?
I wanted to work on campus and make new connections with people.
What aspects of cataloging did you enjoy or find challenging?
She enjoyed the practical application of what she learned in the course—particularly the level of detail and circumspection essential to cataloging. She said, “It’s important to take one’s time with this process.”
What have you learned, and would you consider pursuing a career in library work?
Cataloging is a rigorous process. We must take care and reinforce the books for multiple uses. After this experience, I might consider librarianship in the future.
Personal fun fact: Alondra enjoys hiking in the mountains.
Fresno State Library News 