For immediate release | November 22, 2010

91´«Ã½ Office for Diversity selects field recruiters for Discovering Librarianship

91´«Ã½

The 91´«Ã½’s Office for Diversity and Spectrum Scholarship Program are pleased to announce the early career librarians selected to serve as field recruiters for the Discovering Librarianship project -- a recruitment initiative focused on introducing 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.

Discovering Librarianship Field Recruiters are:

  • Marissa Alcorta, Pima County (Ariz.) Public Library
  • Toni Anaya, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • Alexandra Annen, Homer Township (Ill.) Public Library
  • Seung-Hae (Diana) Bang, Saskatoon Health Region
  • Ana Barreto, Miami Dade Public Library
  • Steven De’Juan Booth, National Archives and Records Administration
  • Roy Brooks, University of Illinois
  • Emily Chan, University of the Pacific
  • Connie Chow, Huntsville-Madison County (Ala.) Public Library
  • Deana Greenfield, National Louis University
  • Daisy Gutierrez, Melcher Neighborhood Library, Houston Public Library
  • Mantra Henderson, James H. White Library, Mississippi Valley State University
  • Bobbye Hernandez, Tillamook County (Ore.) Library
  • Gregory Hom, San Francisco Public Library
  • Patricia Hswe, Penn State University Libraries
  • Danielle Johnson, San Juan College Library
  • Robert Jones, Illinois State Library
  • Jessica Kayongo, University of Notre Dame
  • Janice Kowemy, Laguna (N.M.) Public Library
  • Hannah Lee, University of Delaware Library
  • Tamara Lee, Ramsey County (Minn.) Library
  • Leo Lo, Kansas State University
  • Edwin B. Maxwell, Brooklyn (N.Y.) Public Library
  • Michelle McKinney, University of Cincinnati, Raymond Walters College Library
  • Eura Ryan, Washington Talking Book & Braille Library
  • Deena Smith, Federal Judicial Center
  • Holly Smith, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
  • Tracy Stout, Missouri State Universit, Meyer Library
  • Nicole Stroud, Literacy Council of Independence County (Ark.)
  • Elias Tzoc, Miami University Libraries
  • Luis Vargas, Yuma County (Ariz.) Library District
  • Melanee Vicedo, OCLC
  • Jovanni Williams, University of Houston Downtown, W.I. Dykes Library
  • Somaly Kim Wu, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, J. Murrey Atkins Library
  • Yani Yancey, National Library of Medicine
More than 100 applications were received, and field recruiters were 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 was given to geographic diversity across participants. Discovering Librarianship field recruiters receive support to attend training at the 2011 91´«Ã½ Midwinter Meeting in San Diego; to participate in at least two local, regional or national career or education events approved by the 91´«Ã½ Office for Diversity; and to attend the 2013 91´«Ã½ Midwinter Meeting in Seattle, Wash. Participants will 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.

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 though 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 .

Contact:

Gwendolyn Prellwitz