INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana State Library and the Indiana University School of Library and Information Science (SLIS), Indianapolis is pleased to welcome the first class of Master's of Library Science (MLS) fellows as part of the Librarians Leading in Diversity (LLID) project. The LLID project awarded 10 fellowships in the first class and will eventually provide scholarships for 30 MLS students from diverse backgrounds. Scholarship recipients will receive an annual stipend and also must commit to work in an Indiana library for at least two years.

The 2009 LLID fellows are as follows:

• Shanika R. Hatcher, Avon
• Gail A. H. Lee, Evansville
• Kirsten T. Weaver, Fort Wayne
• Tavis J. Hampton, Indianapolis
• Bernard C. McFarland, Indianapolis
• Dayna C. Masih, Indianapolis
• Kisha R. Tandy, Indianapolis
• Hannah D. Cox, Muncie
• Willie M. Miller, Jackson, MS
• Crystal N. Smith, Portsmouth, VA.

"I would like to congratulate these promising young men and women for being Indiana's first Librarians Leading in Diversity fellows," said Indiana State Librarian, Roberta L. Brooker. "This fantastic project is great for both fellows, who get a great library science education from Indiana University and a foot in the door professionally, and Indiana, which keeps these future leaders in state."

In addition to the scholarship and stipend, recipients will also benefit from participation in state and regional library associations, as well as other supplementary activities including special orientation meetings in various types of library settings, meetings with library directors, diversity and ethics workshops, transition to work programs, online and face-to-face support networks, and other special projects.

The LLID project was developed by the Indiana State Library's Diversity Advisory Council to increase diversity in libraries with the goal that library staff more closely reflects the communities they serve. The Advisory Council sought ways to increase diversity in the library profession in an effort to increase statewide literacy levels by role modeling through more diverse library staff.

The LLID project is funded through a $1 million federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The grant was given as part of the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. Additionally, the project is supported by the Indiana State Library's Diversity Advisory Council, Academic Libraries of Indiana, Administrators of Large Public Libraries in Indiana, the Indiana Black Librarians Network, the Indiana Library Federation, and the Indiana Special Libraries Association.

Applications for the second round of fellows will be accepted beginning in June of 2009 for the January 2010 term.  For more information about the LLID fellowships visit the State Library's Diversity Advisory Council webpage.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas.

In all, IMLS awarded 31 institutions grants totaling $20.3 million as part of the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. The purpose of this initiative is to help bolster the library profession. Since 2002, IMLS has helped fund the education of 3,220 master's degree students, 186 doctoral students, 1,256 pre-professional students, and 26,186 continuing education students.

 

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