Article Reflection #2 - Increasing ethnic diversity in LIS

The article by Kim and Sin examines the continued under-representation of minorities in the LIS profession. With a better understanding of cultural values, diverse librarians can more effectively serve diverse populations. This is where the under-representation of minorities becomes an issue.

Kim and Sin mention a few efforts to increase diversity, including the Spectrum Initiative, created in 1997 by ALA. This program offered scholarships, mentoring, and training to minority librarians. The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) sponsors the Leadership and Career Development program for minority librarians who have demonstrated leadership qualities. Many LIS schools have also implemented efforts to increase diversity, mostly through recruitment with scholarships and special programs for minority students.

Despite these efforts to recruit diverse students, progress has been slow. What can be done? We must examine the research to determine the most effective recruitment methods. For example, collaboration with libraries could prove to be an incredibly efficient way to recruit diverse applicants. Targeted recruitment is another way to effectively recruit minority students. Requiring a great deal of research, targeted recruitment uses strategies effective among particular ethnic groups.

In order to get a better idea of how to best recruit and retain minority students, a group of ethnically diverse librarians were surveyed regarding what they feel are effective strategies to recruit and retain students of color.

The top five most effective recruitment strategies, according to the librarians studied, were:
1. Assistantship/scholarship
2. Ethnic diversity in faculty
3. Role models from ethnic groups
4. Presence of faculty/staff of color in recruitment process
5. Opportunities to work in LIS fields

There were slight differences between ethnic groups. Native Americans gave preference to distance learning options, while African Americans considered communication and ads in publications for people of color to be most effective. When asked to list effective strategies for retainment, participants gave high scores to mentoring programs, scholarship, and effective career advising. There were also differences between ethnic groups. Participants were asked to list factors that influenced their decision to attend library school. Listed as most influential were previous library experience and public librarians. School librarians ranked as more influential with African Americans and Hispanics.

It is important to recognize these types of differences when recruiting minorities and underrepresented populations. Focusing on retention efforts as well as recruitment may help to increase the number of minority librarians in the LIS community. More research should be done on how to most effectively recruit and retain different ethnic groups.

Kim, K. & Sim, S. J. (2008). Increasing ethnic diversity in LIS: Strategies suggested by librarians of color. The Library Quarterly, 78(2), 153-177.