Library And Information Science Programs Research Articles

Bibliometrics and LIS education: How do they fit together?

Bibliometrics has been both studied and applied in a variety of research fields, such as Library and Information Science (LIS), Sociology, history of science, business, management and research policy. In the LIS field, however, there has been an interesting phenomenon: Bibliometrics is quite strong in research as seen from bibliometric maps of LIS literature, but very weak in education as seen from LIS course offerings. This phenomenon invites serious questions, such as Why is this the case? Who is doing Bibliometrics? Where and how do they get their training? Are these kinds of training enough for conducting quality research? Why or why not should we strengthen Bibliometrics education in LIS programs in North America? What should be a proper place of Bibliometrics in LIS education? The panelists, who are both Bibliometrics researchers and university LIS educators from different regions of the world, will share their views of these and related questions. The panel will start with opening remarks from each panelist in the format of 20 × 20 presentations, and will then open the floor for discussion among the panelists and with the audience. This panel is expected to benefit both research and education in LIS.

How to Give Your Users the LIS Services They Want

How to Give Your Users the LIS Services They Want

Lack of Congruence between Analyses and Conclusions Limits Usefulness of Study of Socio-cultural Influences on Student Choice of LIS

A Review of:
 Moniarou-Papaconstantinou, V., Tsatsaroni, A., Katsis, A., & Koulaidis, V. (2010). LIS as a field of study: Socio-cultural influences on students’ decision making. Aslib Proceedings: New Information Perspectives, 62(3), 321-344.
 
 Objective — To determine how social and cultural factors influence students’ decision to study library and information science (LIS) as undergraduates.
 
 Design — Semi-structured interviews and quantitative analysis of questionnaire data.
 
 Setting — Three schools in Greece with LIS programs at the undergraduate level.
 
 Subjects — One hundred eighty-seven first-year students enrolled in Greece’s LIS schools’ undergraduate programs in the autumn semester of the 2005-2006 academic year.
 
 Methods — The authors piloted the questionnaire with 52 students at the LIS school in Athens and had three faculty members review the questionnaire. After modification, the two-part questionnaire was administered during the first week of classes to all first-year undergraduate students enrolled in Greece’s three LIS schools. The first section of the questionnaire collected data on student gender, age, area of residence, school from which they graduated, and parental occupation and level of education. The second part of the questionnaire covered students’ reasons for choosing LIS as a field of study, the degree to which students agreed with dominant public views (i.e., stereotypes) of librarianship, and practical issues that influenced students’ decision-making processes. The authors conducted two rounds of semi-structured interviews with students from the same 2005-2006 cohort. They interviewed 41 self-selected students and then interviewed a purposive sample of 15 students from the same cohort in the fifth semester of the students’ studies.
 
 Main Results — The questionnaire was completed by 187 LIS students, with 177 responses considered relevant and used in the analyses. Demographic information showed that 78% of the respondents were female, 85.8% were from urban areas, and 98.9% graduated from public schools. The authors constructed two indices to assist with further analyses: the Educational Career Index, which quantified students’ educational experience prior to study at the university, and the Divergence Index, which was created by comparing students’ university entrance exam scores and students’ ranking of LIS as a preferred field of study. The authors determined that 65% of the variance in the data was explained by two factors: students’ responses to library stereotypes and students’ self-reported reasons for choosing to study LIS. The self-reported reasons for studying LIS were combined into four variables (extrinsic reasons, intrinsic professional reasons, intrinsic academic reasons, and intrinsic social reasons) to be used in the multivariate analysis of variance tests (MANOVAs). 
 
 Three distinct clusters of students were found using the indices and parental education level in cluster analysis: Cluster 1 (low parental education, low Educational Career, and low Divergence indices scores), Cluster 2 (intermediate parental education, high Educational Career, and low Divergence scores), and Cluster 3 (high parental education, high Educational Career, and low Divergence scores). For three of the factors for choosing the LIS field (intrinsic professional reasons, intrinsic academic reasons, and intrinsic social reasons), Cluster 1 showed statistically significant differences (p

The influence of LIS students’ personality characteristics on their perceptions towards Web 2.0 use

The information world in which library and information science (LIS) students study and are being educated is in a state of constant change. As Web 2.0 is becoming an important and central topic in our information world, the research reported here explores whether LIS students are familiar with technological changes and innovations, and whether they make use of the different Web 2.0 applications. The research examined whether personality characteristics (learning strategies, resistance to change and cognitive appraisal), as well as learning facilitators such as motivation, capacity and importance of studying and integrating different applications of Web 2.0 in the future, influenced LIS students’ perceptions towards Web 2.0 use. Different questionnaires were distributed to 160 randomly selected Israeli students from three different LIS programmes. The research revealed a moderate tendency of LIS students to use Web 2.0 applications. It was found that personality characteristics as well as learning facilitators influenced LIS students’ perceptions towards Web 2.0 use.

Where Are They Now? Results of a Career Survey of Library and Information Science Graduates

This paper provides an overview of Workforce Issues in Library and Information Science 1 (WILIS 1), a large scale retrospective career study of graduates of all library and information science (LIS) programs in North Carolina from 1964–2007. The interdisciplinary research team used a multiple methods approach to data collection consisting of a survey of LIS graduates, a survey of administrators of LIS programs, and key informant interviews. This article presents an overview of the study design and methods followed by key results from the survey of graduates. The specific research goals of WILIS 1 were: (1) to gain a comprehensive understanding of the educational, workplace, career, and retention issues facing LIS graduates; (2) to investigate the way in which LIS programs track their graduates and use these data for educational and workforce planning; (3) to explore possibilities for a career tracking model that could be used by all LIS programs in the future; and (4) to disseminate the study results in a manner that would facilitate LIS workforce planning. WILIS 1 has now been joined by a second study known as WILIS 2, which is further developing the alumni tracking model that all LIS programs can potentially use.

Where Will They Be in the Future? Implementing a Model for Ongoing Career Tracking of Library and Information Science Graduates

This article provides an overview of Workforce Issues in Library and Information Science 2 (WILIS 2), a study aimed at developing a career-tracking and program evaluation system that can potentially be used by all library and information science (LIS) programs. Such a system could enable stakeholders at all levels to collect data on an ongoing basis, informing their planning process and resulting in more effective ways to educate, manage, and retain the LIS workforce. WILIS 2 is informed by the experience of the research team in developing WILIS 1, an in-depth career retrospective study conducted between 2005 and 2009. WILIS 2 is using a community-based participatory research approach that involves members of the LIS community in the major aspects of project design and implementation. Three working groups on survey design, data reporting, and sustainability have been formed to increase the likelihood that the data collection system will meet the needs of a wide range of LIS programs. Members of the working groups are being drawn from the WILIS project advisory committee and representatives of the participating LIS programs as well as stakeholder groups such as the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE), the American Library Association (ALA), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Eight programs are participating in a pilot test of the survey, and an additional thirty-five programs will join in the full launch. Results from a WILIS survey of LIS program administrators regarding their existing alumni-tracking practices as well as key results from the recent graduates section of the WILIS 1 survey are included in this paper. The administrators' survey found a high level of interest in a shared approach to alumni tracking, and the results from the recent graduates section of WILIS 1 serve to illustrate the type of data that programs can gather through a recent graduates' survey.

Introduction: Workforce Issues in Library and Information Science

IntroductionWorkforce Issues in Library and Information Science Joanne Gard Marshall (bio), Paul Solomon (bio), and Susan Rathbun-Grubb (bio) Beyond buildings, collections, and services, the library and information science (LIS) workforce is key to the success of many aspects of a knowledge economy. LIS professionals partner with educators in the instruction of youth and young adults, support reading and information literacy required for productive participation in society over the life course, enable research and development through access to research findings and translational systems, and promote commerce through Web development and organization and retrieval of information, to name just a few of their service objectives. Whereas librarianship has a long history as a profession, the expanded field of library and information science presents many new opportunities for information professionals to work in non-library settings. Occupational employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2008) estimate that there are 151,170 librarians, 113,510 library technicians, 5,330 archivists, and 3,960 library science post-secondary faculty in the workforce (not including self-employed workers). The American Library Association (2009) estimates the number employed in academic, public, and school libraries at 329,941. Library and information science professionals working outside of libraries are much harder to identify and their numbers tend to be spread among various occupational categories. The U.S. National Center for Education Statistics (2008) reports that there were 6,767 master's degrees in library science conferred by degree-granting institutions in the academic year 2006–7. While the number of degrees has been slowly increasing since the late 1990s, the supply of new graduates does not appear to be adequate for the number of retirements that will take place as the baby boomers leave the workforce. According to Dohm (2000), the impact of the retirement of seventy-six million boomers on U.S. labor supply will be greatest in the decade following 2008. As [End Page 121] shown in table 1, Dohm (2000) presented Bureau of Labor Statistics data that placed librarians seventh on a list of occupations with the highest percentage of workers aged forty-five years and older in 1998, at which time the median age of librarians was forty-seven, compared to age thirty-nine for all twenty-four occupations on the list. Concern continues to be expressed about potential LIS workforce shortages, given the expected baby boomer retirements, and the need for increased recruitment, diversity, succession planning, and leadership development in the profession. Less attention has been paid to retention of LIS professionals at various career stages, although this is another strategy that is worthy of consideration, given the nature of the workforce challenges that lie ahead. Given this concern, it is an ideal time for an issue of Library Trends that begins to take stock of some of the major issues related to the LIS workforce and to lay a foundation for future research and workforce planning at all levels. In 2004, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) initiated the 21st Century Librarian Program, which made workforce research a priority. In the same year, IMLS funded a national study on the Future of Librarians in the Workforce being conducted by Griffiths, et al. (www.libraryworkforce.org). The national study aims to project the supply and demand for librarians and to provide data from a wide variety of surveys of libraries, library employees, employers, career counselors, educators, and other groups. In 2005, IMLS funded another large scale workforce study by Marshall, et al. (www.wilis.unc.edu), which provided an in-depth look at the careers of graduates of the six LIS programs in North Carolina from 1964–2007. A follow-up study known as WILIS 2 is using the recent graduates' portion of the full retrospective career study as a basis for creating an alumni tracking survey that a wide range of LIS programs can potentially use. Other major LIS research studies have also been undertaken by the 8Rs Research Team in Canada (2005) and the Colorado State Library (Steffen, Lance, Russell, & Lietzau, 2004). In 2004, the Archival Census and Education Needs Survey in the United States, also funded by IMLS, was conducted by the Society of...

Documenting Diversity among Working LIS Graduates

The purpose of this article is to document the demographic characteristics of the library and information science (LIS) workforce and to discuss the implications of these findings for education and workforce planning. Workforce Issues in Library and Information Science 1 (WILIS 1) is a collaborative research partnership of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Information and Library Science and the University of North Carolina Institute on Aging, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through its Librarians for the 21st Century Program. Workforce Issues in Library and Information Science 1 (WILIS 1) is a comprehensive study of the career patterns of graduates of LIS programs in North Carolina since 1964. This article examines data from 1,903 working LIS graduate respondents. The results of this study suggest that the LIS workforce is predominantly female, underrepresented in terms of race/ethnic minorities, and consists of slightly older workers than the workforce overall. Comparisons of earnings reveal a substantial wage gap between the males and females in the sample (men earn more). We also find significant race, sex, and gender differences in factors that motivated respondents to enter an LIS program and qualities of jobs that respondents find desirable. Based on these findings, we suggest the following strategies to increasing diversity: (1) focus efforts on recruiting race/ethnic minorities to the LIS profession; (2) structure LIS jobs to accommodate the needs of women workers; and (3) plan for and accommodate the large segment of older and retiring workers.

Skills developed through library and information science education

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report a study designed to identify qualifications and skills that library and information science (LIS) students should have when they graduate.Design/methodology/approachThe reported research examines the curriculum of 49 institutions in three countries which offer programs in LIS. Course descriptions are studied through the web and the module specifications presented there.FindingsThe study identifies 59 qualifications/skills that were central to graduation in the field of LIS.Research limitations/implicationsCourse specifications have some limitations as they do not always include the detailed description that would be desirable.Originality/valueThe paper examines the orientation of institutions that provide LIS programs and, more importantly, the way that orientation is integrated into their programs of study.

Eyes Wide Open

The Future Voices in Public Services column is a forum for students in graduate library and information science programs to discuss key issues they see in academic library public services, to envision what they feel librarians in public service have to offer to academia, to tell us of their visions for the profession, or to tell us of research that is going on in library schools. We hope to provide fresh perspectives from those entering our field, in both the United States and other countries. Interested faculty of graduate library and information science programs, who would like their students' ideas represented in these pages, are invited to contact Nancy H. Dewald at nxd7@psu.edu. Brett Bodemer, Karen Brown, and Jennifer Crowther are graduate students in the Library and Information Science Program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Here they offer their perspectives on issues in collection management and information literacy instruction. Since 1965, the University of Hawaii Library and Information Science (LIS) Program (http://www.hawaii.edu/lis/) has offered a professional masters degree in Library and Information Science. We also offer post-master's certificates. We were founding partners in the intra-disciplinary Ph.D. in Communication and Information Sciences. The LIS Program is the only ALA-accredited program part of a Computer Science Department, which offers students unique opportunities to prepare for emerging information careers. The university is a diverse and international campus located at the crossroads of the Pacific. If you love learning and knowledge and are inspired to help people make connections, we believe you'll enjoy being a part of our exciting community of information specialists at the University of Hawaii at Manoa LIS Program. *****

Financial management and budgeting strategies for LIS programmes

PurposeWith the dwindling state funding to support higher education, Universities have been forced to initiate many private programmes to not only generate income for the Universities but also to respond to the high demand for higher qualifications and skills demanded for globally. This in turn has put on pressure on University departments to initiate new programmes, budget for them and manage the resources accruing from these programmes. The central question is how these academic programmes are budgeted for and the budgeting strategy adopted by Library and Information Science (LIS) schools. The purpose of this article is to examine the budgeting strategies applicable in LIS and recommends appropriate strategies to be adopted for budgeting for LIS programmes. It also recommends financial management issues that LIS school educators/managers should consider.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is based on analysis of relevant literature and experience of the authors in designing several courses at Makerere University.FindingsThe paper makes a review of budgeting strategies applicable to LIS institutions and makes recommendations for the key areas that should be considered by LIS schools in budgeting for new academic programmes. It concludes by making emphasis on financial management and proper budgeting as an important tool in surviving the closure in the global re‐organisation in higher education.Originality/valueSome LIS schools have closed especially in South Africa. The issue is financial sustainability. This article addresses this central issue that need to be carefully considered by LIS schools to ensure that LIS programmes are budgeted for properly.

Quality assurance and LIS education in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the situation and evaluation strategies and processes of nine library and information science (LIS) education programs in the six member nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), namely Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Muscat, and Bahrain. It also aims to explore what accreditation practices can be introduced and how this process can be streamlined.Design/methodology/approach – A survey was conducted, using an electronic questionnaire. Nine schools provided information. Saudi Arabia's four universities have six LIS programs; Kuwait has two, and Qatar and Oman have one each. The paper describes the situation of the LIS programs in terms of their organizational placement, strategic plan, students, faculty, and resources and facilities. It also describes the evaluation efforts undertaken in these programs through self‐study and external assessment and the outcomes of these exercises.Findings – Policies and practices of evaluatio...

Demise, renaissance or existence of LIS education in Ethiopia: Curriculum, employers’ expectations and professionals’ dreams

Library and Information Science (LIS) education in Ethiopia started in the late 1950s, passing through several ups and downs. In an attempt to assess the status of LIS education in Ethiopia, the reasons for the closure of the first Bachelor of Library and Information Science (BLIS) program, review of strengths and weaknesses of existing LIS programs, the reasons for discontent of employers on the services provided by LIS professionals as well as the reasons for the dissatisfaction of the LIS professionals were investigated. Interviews (for LIS employers) and questionnaires (for LIS employees) were administered at selected organizations. Some of the general findings of the study are that the BLIS program at the Addis Ababa University was changed to a pure Information Systems program due to university-wide curriculum review initiatives; the current BLIS program at Jimma University is the strongest in addressing the limitations and expectations identified by LIS employers; and the reasons for the dissatisfaction of LIS professionals are pay, promotion, benefits, rewards, procedures and communication aspects of their job. LIS professionals believe that their qualifications are inadequate for performing their job.

Library and information science education in Nigeria: Curricula contents versus cultural realities

Library and Information Science (LIS) education can only be meaningfully discussed within the context of education generally, and vis-à-vis the cultural milieu for which it is provided. The growing globalization is equally a necessary factor to consider in this discussion, given its seeping impact on culture, economy and education, especially in developing countries. LIS education programmes in Nigeria are offered at various tertiary level institutions—Colleges of Education, Polytechnics, and Universities. Such programmes award certificates, diplomas, BLS, BLIS, MLS, MLIS, Ph.D. and vary in nomenclature, content, and grading system, depending on the awarding institution. The discussion examines the types of LIS programmes these schools offer, the content of their curricula, and training facilities against the needs and the prevailing conditions of the socio-cultural environment which is the schools’ raison d’etre. Each of these schools has its own peculiarities, but being federal institutions, they have many characteristics in common.

Museum professionals and the relevance of LIS expertise

This article presents results from a survey designed to assess the relevance of library and information science (LIS) expertise—here defined as those topics typically, but not exclusively, taught in LIS programs—for museum professionals. The topics covered in this article are information representation, information organization and access, information management, computer technologies, digitization technologies, interactive technologies, information policy, evaluation methods, and collaboration initiatives. An online survey assessed the degree to which museum professionals possess skills in these topics, perform work in these topics, and consider these topics important for future study. The article examines the relative value of each topic for museum professionals and discusses the importance of strengthening relationships between LIS and museum studies by better understanding the relevance of LIS expertise in museums.

Demise, renaissance or existence of LIS education in Ethiopia: Curriculum, employers’ expectations and professionals’ dreams

Library and Information Science (LIS) education in Ethiopia started in the late 1950s, passing through several ups and downs. In an attempt to assess the status of LIS education in Ethiopia, the reasons for the closure of the first Bachelor of Library and Information Science (BLIS) program, review of strengths and weaknesses of existing LIS programs, the reasons for discontent of employers on the services provided by LIS professionals as well as the reasons for the dissatisfaction of the LIS professionals were investigated. Interviews (for LIS employers) and questionnaires (for LIS employees) were administered at selected organizations. Some of the general findings of the study are that the BLIS program at the Addis Ababa University was changed to a pure Information Systems program due to university-wide curriculum review initiatives; the current BLIS program at Jimma University is the strongest in addressing the limitations and expectations identified by LIS employers; and the reasons for the dissatisfac...

Library and information science education in Nigeria: Curricula contents versus cultural realities

Summary Library and Information Science (LIS) education can only be meaningfully discussed within the context of education generally, and vis-a-vis the cultural milieu for which it is provided. The growing globalization is equally a necessary factor to consider in this discussion, given its seeping impact on culture, economy and education, especially in developing countries. LIS education programmes in Nigeria are offered at various tertiary level institutions—Colleges of Education, Polytechnics, and Universities. Such programmes award certificates, diplomas, BLS, BLIS, MLS, MLIS, Ph.D. and vary in nomenclature, content, and grading system, depending on the awarding institution. The discussion examines the types of LIS programmes these schools offer, the content of their curricula, and training facilities against the needs and the prevailing conditions of the socio-cultural environment which is the schools’ raison d’etre. Each of these schools has its own peculiarities, but being federal institutions, they have many characteristics in common.

Internationalization of LIS education in Europe and North America

PurposeThis paper aims to stress the importance of international and intercultural opportunities in serving as essential components in educating and training library and information professionals. More specifically, it provides an overview of issues and trends in internationalization of higher education (HE) in general and illustrates how the concept of and approaches to internationalization have affected library and information science (LIS) educational settings and programs primarily in Europe and the USA.Design/methodology/approachBased on a literature review, the paper discusses the meaning and definition of the concept of internationalization. Using a framework that draws on theoretical work on internationalisation of HE programs/contexts an analysis is then presented of the changing nature of internationalization in HE environments. The theoretical analysis is coupled with illustrations of current internationalisation practices, projects, strategies and players within LIS education communities in Europe and the USA. Finally, a discussion of the principal issues of internationalization of the LIS curriculum is presentedFindingsA synthesis is provided of the body of knowledge on the topics of internationalisation in general and within the HE sector in particular. Also presented is an overview of the multifaceted internationalisation activities taking place within LIS education. A range of thoughts and suggestions are given on how LIS schools can respond to the challenges of an increasing global world and, more specifically, how they can develop LIS programs and create classroom settings that are truly international in orientation and scope.Research limitations/implicationsThe geographical scope is limited to Europe and North America and the focus of the study is particularly on issues and challenges within the LIS education community.Practical implicationsExposure to international educational environments and acquisition and absorption of intercultural values and skills serves to enhance and enrich the academic background of LIS students/graduates and add to the employability and career development of the coming LIS professionals. International outlook, networking and intercultural communication skills are essential for practitioners, policy makers, leaders, decision makers, researchers and educators in the LIS field.Originality/valueNo comprehensive study of the internationalization of LIS programs in the context of HE sector‐specific internationalization theory has previously been published. The paper makes a difference in the way it reflects on LIS internationalization issues and tasks from the perspective of the published literature on internationalization of HE.

User-Centered Design of a Web Site for Library and Information Science Students: Heuristic Evaluation and Usability Testing

This study describes the life cycle of a library Web site created with a user-centered design process to serve a graduate school of library and information science (LIS). Findings based on a heuristic evaluation and usability study were applied in an iterative redesign of the site to better serve the needs of this special academic library population. Recommendations for design of Web-based services for library patrons from LIS programs are discussed, as well as implications for Web sites for special libraries within larger academic library settings.

Recruiting and Retaining Students of Color in LIS Programs: Perspectives of Library and Information Professionals

The study was conducted to identify effective strategies for recruiting and retaining students of color in library and information science (LIS). Using a Web-based survey, the study collected data from librarians of color, enrolled in, or graduated from, ALA-accredited LIS programs. Study Findings help reassess the efforts that LIS programs made in recruiting and retaining students of color, and shed light on some key areas of focus and improvement for such efforts. Suggestions are made to develop strategies for diverse LIS community and programs. Introduction According to the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) statistical reports, the student population in Library and Information Science (LIS) schools/programs has not been as ethnically diverse as the U.S. population. Among the students enrolled in American Library Association (ALA)-accredited LIS schools, only 1 1 .3% are ethnic minorities including the four main groups, African Americans, American Indians, Asian Americans, and Hispanic Americans.1 This proportion at LIS schools is significantly lower than the proportion of minorities enrolled in graduate programs (26.4%)2 and those in the U.S. population (31.3%).3 The under-representation of ethnic minorities is also reflected in the library community. Librarians of color constitute about 12-12.5% of academic and public librarian populations.4 More recently, the ratio of librarians of color among credentialed librarians has actually dropped from 1 2% in 1 990 to 1 0% in 20O0.5 As in the LIS student population, the proportion of ethnic minorities in the librarian population (10-12.5%) is significantly lower than the proportion in the U.S. population (31.3%) (See Figure 1 ). Recent projections of the U.S. population indicate that, by 2050, the four ethnic minority groups will represent almost half of the U.S. population.6 As Josey has pointed out, unless the LIS schools and other related organizations develop and support a more comprehensive and aggressive recruitment program, the gap between LIS and U.S. populations will widen even further.7 Such a gap could be a serious issue, especially to public organizations like libraries. The mission of libraries is to serve the public, and the public is becoming more ethnically and culturally diverse. The increasing diver- sity in the user population requires changes in library services including reference, collection management, and outreach.9 Libraries whose staff is not as diverse as their users might not be able to serve the public effectively, as their employees' lack of expertise in different cultures and languages could be a barrier in understanding and helping users. Another issue is re- lated to users. Research suggests that interpersonal similarity can increase the ease of communication, foster relationships of trust and reciprocity, and also create a sense of belonging and membership. I0 Ethnicity is a key factor for interpersonal similarity, as it is closely related to the cultural as well as physical connections between individuals. In libraries, as in other public organizations, it is important to have enough librarians of color so that all users, regardless of their ethnic and cultural background, can see authority figures (such as librarians and teachers) who look like them. This would make the users feel comfortable and affirmed that they are in the right place. Furthermore, ethnic diversity is important because it enriches a society by offering all citizens more opportunities to experience, learn, and understand one another. Over the last few decades, LIS schools/programs have worked diligently to recruit people of color into the information profession, and other related organizations also have been stalwart in supporting recruitment programs. ALA, for example, created the Spectrum Initiative in 1997, to promote diversity in the library community and recruit minority librarians by providing scholarships, mentoring, and training programs. …