By LaTeesa James, Diversity Graduate Student Assistant
Hello! My name is LaTeesa James and I am the Diversity Graduate Student Assistant at Wayne State University's School of Library and Information Science. I wanted to encourage you to apply for the Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce (IRDW) Scholarship (see below), which is offered through the Association of Research Libraries. This scholarship provides underrepresented Library and Information Science students with great opportunities; I know because I am an IRDW Scholar.
I applied for the scholarship as soon as I received my acceptance letter to the MLIS program at WSU. I thought that it would be a great funding opportunity, but it turned out to be so much more than that. Yes, the $2500 stipend for 4 semesters has been incredibly helpful…but I have gained so much more out of the experience. As a scholar, I was given the opportunity to attend the Leadership Conference that takes place during the ALA Midwinter Conference. This allowed me to be able to speak one-on-one with research library directors from all over the country. I was able to attend a site visit to Michigan State University (an ARL library), which also put me in contact with research librarians (some of whom I will be interviewing with for a position in the near future). In addition, after writing a short proposal, I was allotted $2500 to attend a workshop that would further equip me with knowledge in the area of librarianship that I am interested in. Finally, I was assigned a mentor who is practicing librarianship in the area of my interest.
To say the least, this scholarship has added invaluable richness to my time as a MLIS student. I highly recommend that you apply if you are interested in working in a research library after attaining your MLIS. You will find it to be a priceless experience.
If you have questions about the scholarship application process, or would like assistance with writing your personal statement, please let me know. I would be happy to assist you!
LaTeesa James
Diversity & Outreach Graduate Student Assistant
Wayne State University
School of Library Information Science
E-mail: av0928@wayne.edu
Phone: (313) 577-1825
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| Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce Call for Applications
Deadline May 15 |
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by Mark A. Puente | 202-296-2296 | mpuente@arl.org | on April 3, 2017
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.
The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is a nonprofit organization of 124 research libraries in the US and Canada. ARL's mission is to influence the changing environment of scholarl |
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