July 26, 2000
RELEASE ON RECEIPT

Oberlin College Receives Federal Grant to Attract Multicultural Students to the Library Field

OBERLIN, OHIO--An Oberlin College program to attract undergraduate students from diverse cultural backgrounds to the field of librarianship has received a $139,732 grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Oberlin is one of only 10 organizations nationwide to receive a national leadership grant in the category of education and training. The Institute, which awarded nearly $2.1-million in funds to colleges, universities, and other organizations, is an independent agency created by the Museum and Library Services Act of 1996.

"As the demographics of the United States become ever more culturally and racially diverse, libraries will need to recruit increasingly diverse professional staffs in order to effectively serve the country's heterogeneous population," says Oberlin College Library Director Ray English.

"Intervention at the undergraduate level nationwide has been generally neglected. This program can significantly increase the number of students from diverse backgrounds who pursue graduate work in the field. Oberlin's program will be a model for recruitment of future librarians at the undergraduate level."

English points out, "The program builds on the College's rich history of maintaining a diverse student body, on its excellent record of educating future librarians, and on its library system's strong commitment to diversity."

Six Oberlin students will be recruited annually for one-year undergraduate internships, which will begin the spring of their junior year and continue through the next fall. The paid, part-time training will include presentations and discussions related to librarianship, observation and hands-on experience with basic operations of the library system, and field trips to other types of libraries. Beginning in the second year of the project, students will complete off-campus winter term projects with Oberlin alumni librarians.

One student also will be chosen annually to be a full-time graduate intern to gain in-depth experience in librarianship. He/she will assist in coordinating the undergraduate program and work to enhance Library services for minority students in general and serve as a liaison to minority students on campus.

English says the combination of mentoring plus training, observation, and work experience within the library will provide students a unique perspective on professional library work and result in an exceptionally strong foundation from which to pursue graduate studies in library and information science and, further, to make a successful transition to professional work.

Media Contact: Betty Gabrielli 7/26/00 #05 bg