University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Knowledge River: A Case Study of a Library and Information Science Program Focusing on Latino and Native American Perspectives

Montiel-Overall, Patricia; Littletree, Sandra

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/18722

Description

Title
Knowledge River: A Case Study of a Library and Information Science Program Focusing on Latino and Native American Perspectives
Author(s)
  • Montiel-Overall, Patricia
  • Littletree, Sandra
Issue Date
2010
Keyword(s)
  • Workforce Issues in Library and Information Science
  • Minorities in library science -- United States.
  • Multicultural education -- United States -- Case studies.
  • Minority graduate students -- Recruiting -- United States.
  • Library schools -- Curricula -- United States.
  • University of Arizona. School of Information Resources and Library Science.
Abstract
This article discusses the development of Knowledge River, a program at the University of Arizona School of Information Resources and Library Science established through several Institute of Museum and Library Services grants designed to recruit Latino and Native American students to the library and information science (LIS) profession. Knowledge River (KR) was designed as a national model for increasing diversity in information organizations and LIS programs. The article describes the KR model and elements of the program that have increased its success. Included are participation in a residential cohort, real-world library work experiences, and formal mentoring by KR graduates and other ethnic minorities in the field. Knowledge River has served as a catalyst for increasing awareness of diversity issues and multiple perspectives in addressing issues in the LIS field. Knowledge River has also resulted in a requirement that all LIS students enroll in at least one diversity course. This article also provides a retrospective analysis of the KR model and presents a theoretical framework for developing future LIS diversity programs such as KR.
Publisher
Johns Hopkins University Press and the Graduate School of Library and Information Science. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
ISSN
0024-2594
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/18722
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2010 Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Owning Collections

Library Trends 59 (1-2) Summer/Fall 2010: Workforce Issues in Library and Information Science, Part 2 PRIMARY
Library Trends 59 (1-2) Summer/Fall 2010: Workforce Issues in Library and Information Science, Part 2. Edited by Joanne Gard Marshall, Susan Rathbun-Grubb, Deborah Barreau, and Jennifer Craft Morgan