Announcing the Fall 2024 Ask A Librarian Interns

The Ask A Librarian Internship Program, which provides currently-enrolled library and information science students with paid, hands-on experience in academic librarianship, is excited to announce the Fall 2024 interns. Interns receive training and support from a librarian supervisor at Columbia in order to assist users through the Ask A Librarian chat reference service. Additionally, interns work in collaboration with their supervisor to conduct a project. Please join us in welcoming the following interns to the fourth year of the internship program

Federica Alesiani

Federica Alesiani (pronounced Fe-de-rica) is currently completing the Master’s in Library and Information Science at the University of Washington. With experience as a teaching assistant and workshop leader in informatics, Federica has developed strong technical and communication skills. She is passionate about harnessing data and predictive modeling to improve educational outcomes. Upon finishing her Master’s at UW, Federica aspires to continue her thesis studies on leveraging open access initiatives on scholarly research across diverse institutions.

Willy Anthony Diaz Tapia

Willy Anthony Diaz Tapia (he/him/El) earned his BA in Sociology with a concentration in Global Information and Social Enterprise Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he acquired skills in using technology for social justice. Recently, he completed his PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Will has co-published work on topics that include marginalization, economic constraints, gender disparities, and support for undocumented communities. Currently, Will is a Knowledge River Scholar and a first-year student in the Master of Library and Information Science program at the University of Arizona, Tucson. He also serves as a Graduate Assistant in the Public Services Unit within Special Collections at UA Libraries. Will is excited to assist Columbia University students with their inquiries through online chat reference services.

Jasmine Zacate

Jasmine Zacate is a Library Specialist at Mayo Clinic Medical Libraries, where she works in Technical Services. She has experience in school, public, academic, and special libraries. Jasmine is working toward her Master of Science in Information at Florida State University, with an expected graduation date of December 2025. After completing her degree, she will pursue a career as an academic librarian, focusing on promoting information accessibility and data services. In her spare time, she enjoys nature walks, reading, and experimenting with baking.

Do you have questions about the Ask A Librarian Internship? Please contact AskALibrarianInternship@library.columbia.edu for more information.