Purdue pushes for increased librarian diversity
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Purdue Libraries recently brought 15 of the nation's top minority graduate library students to tour the Purdue library system. The all-expenses-paid, two-day visit allows students to shadow professionals at Purdue and gain a firsthand look at the inside workings of a research library.
Phuongkhanh Nguyen of San Jose State University said she was grateful for the unexpected opportunity created by Purdue Dean of Libraries James L. Mullins.
"I met many kind and generous people. I want to be at a place like Purdue where diversity is good. That enriches me," Nguyen said. "Dean Mullins' vision is now carried in each of us like little seedlings throughout the nation."
During their April 27-28 visit each student met with Mullins, various faculty members and Provost Sally Mason and Vice President for Human Relations Alysa Rollock.
Jerome Offord Jr., director of diversity initiatives for the Association of Research Libraries, praised Mullins for providing individual attention to each of the visiting students.
"What Dean Mullins is doing is unique," Offord said. "A librarian's career starts the first day of his or her first job. Jim is making sure that none of these students will walk in unprepared. He's giving back to the profession."
Mullins said whether or not any of the students return to work at Purdue, underwriting such professional development programs is a way of supporting the national association's recruitment and retention goals. The model Purdue began in April 2005 is being replicated. Last November Harvard College Library funded a visit by seven second-year students, an initiative designed to complement the Purdue program that focuses on first-year students. Participating students are forming networks and finding mentors — steps that may eventually lead to more leadership diversity as young librarians rise through the ranks.
Mullins has already committed to bringing a group of students to campus in April 2007. In an outgrowth of that program, three "diversity fellows" will join the libraries staff as visiting faculty members for two years beginning in August. Some of the candidates previously visited Purdue through the existing recruiting initiative.
Megan Perez, from the University of North Carolina, was impressed with how Purdue Libraries' commitment to diversity was matched by the university's commitment as a whole.
"I don't know of another school with the same synergy," Perez said. "It enriches the educational experience for the students and faculty and prepares graduates to succeed in a diverse, global workforce."
The library diversity initiative is just one piece in the university's diversity strategy. Other examples include the Science Bound program through which Purdue reaches out to Indianapolis families to ensure that children from underrepresented groups are exposed to the undergraduate educational opportunities available to them at Purdue. The university's supplier diversity development office is consistently seeking minority- and women-owned suppliers and contractors with whom to do business through programs such as Construction Connection. This week, the university once again sponsors the annual Indiana Black Expo, an event that continues to foster increased diversity at the university.
Writer: Jim Schenke, (765) 494-6262, jschenke@purdue.edu
Sources: James Mullins, (765) 494-2900, jmullins@purdue.edu
Jerome Offord Jr., (202) 296-2296, jerome@arl.org
Phuongkhanh Nguyen, (562) 433-7751, khanhski@yahoo.com
Megan Perez, (607) 339-1121, megan.perez@gmail.com
Sally Mason, (765) 494-9709, sfmason@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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