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ARL Awarded IMLS Grant to Extend ARL/SAA Mosaic Program

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image CC0 by Joanna Kosinska

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has awarded a $299,518 Laura Bush 21st Century Librarians Program grant to the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) to extend the ARL/Society of American Archivists (SAA) Mosaic Program for three years and to recruit and support nine master’s degree students from historically underrepresented groups. Established in 2013, the Mosaic Program promotes much-needed diversification of the archives and special collections professional workforce by attracting individuals who are committed both to the profession and to advancing diversity concerns within it. The program is funded by ARL member libraries and SAA in addition to IMLS.

The ARL/SAA Mosaic Program gives participants financial support for graduate-level education in archival studies or special collections librarianship, with an emphasis in this new phase of the program on developing digital curation and management skills. The Mosaic fellows funded by this grant will work with the director of SAA’s Digital Archives Specialist Program to create professional development plans to strengthen their skills in digital archives and records management. The program also includes a paid internship in a partner archive, a mentoring relationship, cohort building, leadership development, and career placement assistance.

“If we hope to ensure that the archival record being preserved reflects the world in which we live, it is vitally important that the archives profession itself is representative of our society,” said SAA President Dennis Meissner, of the Minnesota Historical Society. “Through its unique design, the Mosaic Program is a valuable tool for attracting and supporting future archivists from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.”

For more information about the program, visit the ARL/SAA Mosaic Program website.


About the Association of Research Libraries

The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is a nonprofit organization of 124 research libraries in the US and Canada. ARL’s mission is to influence the changing environment of scholarly communication and the public policies that affect research libraries and the diverse communities they serve. ARL pursues this mission by advancing the goals of its member research libraries, providing leadership in public and information policy to the scholarly and higher education communities, fostering the exchange of ideas and expertise, facilitating the emergence of new roles for research libraries, and shaping a future environment that leverages its interests with those of allied organizations. ARL is on the web at https://www.arl.org/.

About the Society of American Archivists

saa-logoFounded in 1936, the Society of American Archivists (SAA) is North America’s oldest and largest national archival professional association. It is the preeminent source of professional resources and the principal communication hub for American archivists. Through its activities and advocacy efforts, SAA promotes the values and diversity of archives and archivists and enables archivists to achieve professional excellence and foster innovation to ensure the identification, preservation, and use of records of enduring value. SAA is on the web at http://www.archivists.org/.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services

imls-logoThe Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit http://www.imls.gov/ and follow IMLS on Facebook and Twitter.

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