The ARL Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce: Refining One Approach to Diversity Recruitment in Research Libraries

Abstract

Since 2000 the Association of Research Libraries' (ARL) Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce (IRDW) has provided financial support, training, and leadership development to over 150 master of library and information science (MLIS) students from traditionally underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups. Recent iterations of this Institute of Museum and Library Sciences (IMLS) and ARL-member funded program have focused on recruitment of students with academic backgrounds in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. This poster will highlight program successes with respect to outputs, long-term impact on the LIS profession, and the perceived effect on career tracks of program participants.