Increasing Minority representation in academic libraries: The minority librarian intern program at the Ohio State University

Abstract

In 1988, as part of The Ohio State University's campuswide affirmative action plan, the university libraries' director appointed a committee to develop an internship program for newly graduated minority librarians. A two-year program was established in 1989 to provide practical work experience in a wide variety of library settings during the first year, and the opportunity to select one area of specialization during the second year. The goal of the internship is to assist in attracting more minority librarians to academic libraries. The internship is structured, organized, and evaluated by the Minority Librarian Intern Committee. Members represent several subject areas and diverse ethnic and professional experiences. Committee members also serve as mentors to the intern, providing support, guidance, and encouragement during the program. The internship program is one of approximately seventeen such programs in academic libraries throughout the country. Although theprogram is not unique, it has represented a notable attempt to increase diversity within the library system, and is part of nationwide efforts to enlist underrepresented minority librarians (i.e., African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans) to the field of academic librarianship. In this article, the authors describe and analyze the program and offer suggestions for strategies to increase minority representation in academic libraries.