Seminar: Expanding the Special Collections Diversity Ecosystem Through Post-Bac Programs

Abstract

Our seminar will discuss how a diversity ecosystem that has focused chiefly on MLS students would benefit from outreach to undergrads and recent graduates. Earlier outreach is a highly significant effort that has a positive impact on the diversity pipeline into the library profession. While support of current MLS students and new professionals is laudable, additional outreach is needed to encourage individuals from underrepresented groups to apply to library school in the first place. Post-baccalaureate positions offer recent graduates a year-long fellowship opportunity to work in a special collections library. These positions introduce fellows to a variety of professional activities in archives and rare book libraries and provide support to develop a portfolio for application to a graduate program in Library Science or an allied profession. The post-bac programs we highlight in this panel operate in alignment with the RBMS Diversity Committee’s Diversity Toolkit (http://rbms.info/files/committees/diversity/RBMS_DiversityToolkit-2014-10-03.pdf), which provides a framework for librarians to conduct outreach to high school and college students. ----- Learning Objectives: -Participants will come to appreciate the importance of earlier intervention in diversity initiatives through the shared experience of current and former post-bac fellows. -Participants will learn of the benefits and challenges particular to the post-bac experience. -Participants will learn how administrators at other institutions have created post-bac programs, and leave with strategies for implementing a similar program at their home institutions. Since post-bacs have so far been chiefly housed in liberal arts colleges, we hope that larger institutions in particular will come to appreciate the benefits of this approach. ----- Moderator: Francesca Marini, Associate Professor, Programming and Outreach Librarian, Texas A&M University.