Grant helps diversify recruitment to archives and special collections profession
The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and the Society of American Archivists (SAA) have been awarded a $487,652 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program in support of the new ARL/SAA Mosaic Scholarship Program. This new USA-base diversity recruitment programme seeks to attract students to the archives and special collections profession and provide support for them during graduate school.
The programme promises to provide 'a full suite of financial benefits and career development and placement support to 15 students from traditionally underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups entering academic studies in archival science, special collections librarianship, or similar graduate programmes'.
The ARL/SAA Mosaic Scholarship Program's package consists of: a tuition stipend in support of graduate education in archival science or administration, or special collections librarianship; a paid internship in a partner ARL archival organisation or special collections library for a period not to exceed one calendar year; paid student membership in SAA for one year; and support for travel to and attendance at an SAA Annual Meeting and the Mosaic Leadership Symposium.
In addition to financial support, the programme will provide each participant with: mentoring by an archives or library information professional employed in the partner institution; the opportunity to attend the SAA annual meeting during the scholarship year; and career placement assistance for programme participants.
'We’re especially delighted to be working with ARL to expand and enhance the Mosaic Program,' said SAA executive director Nancy Beaumont. 'This collaboration matches ARL’s remarkable track record of recruiting professionals from traditionally underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups with SAA’s compelling interest in diversifying the archives and special collections workforce to ensure the diversity of the American record.'
