August 3, 2001

Contact: Ranjit Arab, University Relations, (785) 864-8855.

Program recognizes KU for encouraging minority librarians

Editors note: Association of Research Libraries' (ARL) Leadership and Career Development Program participants will be on the KU campus Monday.

LAWRENCE -- As the Internet continues to grow as a major research tool, there is a need for more academic research librarians to organize and present the flood of information. It is equally important that the field attract librarians from varying cultural and ethnic backgrounds to ensure that all members of society are represented in this critical time of knowledge transfer.

The University of Kansas is one of a handful of institutions nationwide taking proactive steps to encourage the recruitment of minority research librarians.

Because of that commitment, KU was chosen as the first stop for the Association of Research Libraries' (ARL) Leadership and Career Development Program. The program, which aims to increase the number of minority research librarians, is made up of 20 participants from research libraries across the U.S. and Canada. These participants undergo a year of training and networking that ultimately helps them achieve leadership positions within the profession.

On Monday, they will meet with KU administrators, deans and library officials as part of their intensive five-day institute. They will also spend four days in workshops in the Kansas City area.

DeEtta Jones, director of organizational leadership services for the ARL, said the growing demand caused by the Internet was just one challenge facing research librarians. In order to attract more minorities, the profession also needs to shed several stereotypes, she said.

"The stereotype of women in sensible shoes with buns in their hair is really not the accurate description of the profession anymore," Jones said. "More and more, it's the case that these are very technologically sophisticated people who have a lot to contribute in a lot of ways -- they are very cultured, very well read, and they have skills that are very unique"

Jones said KU was chosen as the first stop because it had several valuable lessons to offer the participants.

"We wanted to be near the University of Kansas," she said. "There are some really wonderful programs you are involved with. Provost David Shulenburger has been on the leading edge in working with the library community and the academic community."

One person who can speak for the success of the program is Denise Stephens, head of the Anschutz Library at KU. A participant in 1997, Stephens said the program helped her establish strong ties among her colleagues across the nation. Although she does not see herself as a "minority" librarian, she nonetheless acknowledges the need to incorporate more perspectives into the field.

"Libraries are becoming a lot more flexible and focused on what their users want and they are restructuring themselves to meet those needs," she said. "Our users are changing so much that what they expect might not entirely fit with what was provided in the past."