Hampton University’s William R. and Norma B. Harvey Library has been awarded a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services’ Laura Bush 21st Century Library Program. The award in the amount of $249,955 will fund a three year project grant entitled Leading the Charge: Advancing the Recruitment, Retention and Inclusion of People of Color within the Library and Information Science Field.
With this grant, the library will seek to build the capacity of other libraries to develop and implement practices and initiatives that change, evolve, and improve the equity, diversity and inclusion of people of color (POC) working within the field. Project participants will be library administrators, managers and HR professionals. They will develop a plan to implement and assess an EDI initiative within their home organization which addresses the recruitment, retention, and inclusion of POC within their libraries. Participants will be paired with an EDI Initiative Consultant who will assist in guiding them in all stages of the project. The project results will serve as a collection of actionable initiatives and research that can be shared across the field. The project will include an initial meeting, subsequent virtual meetings, individual site visits, assessment and a follow-up meeting to discuss participant initiatives and experiences.
This grant builds upon the success of a 2017 IMLS National Forum grant awarded to the library. The Hampton University National Forum on Minority Recruitment and Retention in the LIS Field was held in 2018 to discuss concerns regarding the experiences of people of color within LIS. The event convened librarians, leaders and experts in library science, diversity and leadership to address the continued issues of recruitment and retention of POC in the field.
Hampton University’s William R. and Norma B. Harvey Library serves as the university’s main library. The mission of the Harvey Library is to support the instructional, research, and service needs of the university community. This is done through ensuring that services and instruction are offered which reflect curriculum programs and needs of the university and surrounding community.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's approximately 120,000 libraries and 35,000 museums and related organizations. The agency’s mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Its grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
0 Comments.