Please share this funding opportunity with anyone who may be interested in the ARL Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce program.

The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is accepting applications for the Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce (IRDW), a program designed to recruit master of library and information science (MLIS) students from traditionally underrepresented ethnic and racial minority groups into careers in research libraries and archives. The IRDW includes:

A stipend of up to $10,000 over two years in support of MLIS education
Leadership and career development training
A site visit to an ARL member library
Financial support for skills development
A formal mentorship program

The IRDW is funded by ARL member libraries. This program reflects the commitment of ARL members to create a diverse research library workforce that will better reflect the changing demographics of higher education and society and will advance our goals of creating more inclusive, equitable, and just organizations.

Program Goal and Objectives

The ARL Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce seeks to:

Attract MLIS students from underrepresented groups to careers in research libraries and archives
Strengthen participants’ leadership and job searching skills via a Leadership Symposium held during the American Library Association (ALA) Midwinter Meeting
Develop a network of peers and mentors who will guide and nurture the career development of the participants

Applicant Criteria

Successful applicants will meet the following criteria:

Identify as an underrepresented racial or ethnic minority, based on the categories outlined by the US Census Bureau or Statistics Canada as well as Native, Aboriginal, and Indigenous classifications
Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, Canada, or Puerto Rico
Be accepted into an ALA-accredited MLIS program
Have a strong interest in pursuing a career in a research library or archive, especially one that is a member of the Association of Research Libraries

To Apply

All applicants are required to submit the following materials by 11:59 p.m. eastern daylight time on Monday, May 15, 2017:

Online application form
Résumé
Essay (400 words maximum) describing what attracts you to a career in a research library or archive
Unofficial undergraduate school transcripts, including your last academic semester completed
Unofficial graduate school transcripts, including your last academic semester completed OR official letter of acceptance into a graduate-level program in library and information science
Two letters of recommendation (See application requirements for details.)

For more information about the program and the application process, visit the Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce (IRDW) website.

Sarah Carter (she/her/hers)

Director, Bridwell Art Library

Assistant Professor

University of Louisville

Louisville, KY 40292

502 852-6741

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