Library Program to Recruit Hispanics, American Indians - University of Arizona School of Information Resources and Library Science - Brief Article

Black Issues in Higher Education, August 30, 2001 by Ronald Roach

TUCSON, ARIZ.

The University of Arizona School of Information Resources and Library Science is using a $500,000 federal grant to boost the numbers of Hispanics and American Indians who are employed as academic or public librarians. Fewer than five percent of librarians are Hispanic and less than one percent of them are American Indian.

The University has obtained a two-year award from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Science to launch the "Knowledge River" project, aimed at increasing minority recruitment in library and information science degree programs.

"We will work with local and national experts to develop and enrich our curriculum and develop research projects that will attract students who want to help solve the information problems of the `digital divide,'" says Brooke Sheldon, director of the information resources and library science school at the University.