91´«Ã½

CHICAGO— The 91´«Ã½’s Office for Diversity and Spectrum Scholarship Program offers a unique opportunity for early career librarians to participate in a recruitment initiative focused on bringing ethnically diverse high school and college students to careers in libraries. “Discovering Librarianship: The Future is Overdue,” a project funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), will support the training of 35 early career librarians to serve as recruiters in national, regional and local career recruitment and education events.

The program intends to significantly increase the profession’s capacity to recruit high school and college students; provide the profession with a new set of recruitment materials with which to engage a growing and diverse population; and deliver valuable information and support to high school and college students interested in careers in libraries.

Selected applicants will receive support to attend training at the 2011 91´«Ã½ Midwinter Meeting in San Diego, Calif.; participate in at least two local, regional or national career or education events approved by the 91´«Ã½ Office for Diversity; and attend the 2013 91´«Ã½ Midwinter Meeting in Seattle, Wash. Participants will be expected to help develop recruitment messages and materials that resonate with ethnically diverse high school and college students and participate in training to support their recruitment efforts and overall professional development.

Priority will be given to early career librarians (one-10 years from date of graduation) who are alumni of recruitment initiatives that support a more diverse workforce or individuals who belong to one of the following racially and ethnically underrepresented groups—American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander. Participants will be selected based on demonstration of leadership potential; interest in recruitment; and committed support from current employer, including time to participate in training and recruitment events. Special consideration will be given to geographic diversity across participants, ensuring that recruiters are available throughout the country.

Application materials are available at . Completed applications are due to the Office for Diversity by Oct. 1, 2010.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit .

The Office for Diversity serves as a clearinghouse for diversity resources and a focal point for administering and fostering diversity as a value and key action area of the Association. The Office serves the membership through its initiatives and programs, resource development, active consultations and training on diversity issues that impact the profession, the workplace, and information service delivery. Topics include such issues as recruitment and retention; personal and professional leadership; organizational change; team and capacity building; service strategies for diverse user populations; and effective interpersonal communications. To learn more, please visit .