New (and not so new) librarians often struggle with outreach and community engagement. Even when it’s taught in LIS programs, it does not always come with real, hands-on experience developing and maintaining partnerships. This isn’t surprising since building relationships in communities takes time and trust and can’t be rushed to fit a fifteen week semester. Through their own research and practice, LIS faculty can build a network of community connections for students to tap into during their time in graduate school. LIS faculty may have existing partnerships with schools, including day cares and Head Start programs, museums and cultural institutions, afterschool and recreation providers, and clinics and social services agencies, all possible sites for experiential learning. One way to help graduate LIS students engage with community-based library services is through an internship. For the fall 2024 semester, Queens College GSLIS student Gena Mizzi and her faculty mentor Dr. Vikki Terrile…