Four "I"s of internships for the new information society: Intentional, Interconnected, Interdisciplinary and International

Internships in library and information studies (LIS) for the New Information Society are re-examined taking into consideration four concepts: (i) international and (ii) interdisciplinary that allow them to expand beyond the local and disciplinary, and (iii) intentional and (iv) interconnected, that draw attention to their purpose, the learning process and the role of participants. Internships are described in terms of what they are, why engage in them, where they are held, how they are conducted, and who is involved. As each question is addressed the four Is (Intentional, Interconnected, Interdisciplinary and International) are threaded into the discussion. This conceptual approach is then described in relation to how it actually works in practice through case studies that highlight the distinct concepts. General guidelines are presented in order for students, LIS programs and internship host organizations can understand their roles. This reconceptualization of internships enable all involved to take advantage of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and to engage with professional, disciplinary and diverse communities globally.