Finding the Power of Community of Practice Lessons Learned from a National Diversity Recruitment Initiative Presenters: Danielle Milam, Sr. VP/Program.

Finding the Power of Community of Practice Lessons Learned from a

National Diversity Recruitment Initiative

Presenters:

Danielle Milam,

Sr. VP/Program & Development, Urban Libraries Council

Deborah Turner, Research Investigator, Ph.d. candidate, University of Washington Information School, Evaluator

Reporting on outcomes of a program generously supported with IMLS 21st Century Librarians grant funding.

Finding the Power of Community of Practice Lessons Learned from a

National Diversity Recruitment InitiativeDanielle Milam, ULC / Deborah Turner, U WA Information School

Need for Diverse New Professionals

Changing Communities

Public Libraries in the “Community Business”

Finding the Power of Community of Practice Lessons Learned from a

National Diversity Recruitment InitiativeDanielle Milam, ULC / Deborah Turner, U WA Information School

Program Goals

Support Education of New Diverse Professionals That Match Community Characteristics

Provide Scholars with Context to Work of Public Libraries in Cities Build a National Community of Colleagues that Speak a Common Language About the “Profession”

and the “Business.”

Listen to the New Voices

Finding the Power of Community of Practice Lessons Learned from a

National Diversity Recruitment InitiativeDanielle Milam, ULC / Deborah Turner, U WA Information School

Program Elements

Student Support - 12 Libraries/78 Scholars 35 MLS & undergrad programs

Local Library Value Added: “Big Picture” Sessions

ULC-Led National Value Added: Online Scholar List Serv National Conference

Finding the Power of Community of Practice Lessons Learned from a

National Diversity Recruitment InitiativeDanielle Milam, ULC / Deborah Turner, U WA Information School

Community of Practice

Situated context / shared place

Shared activities Social aspects

Finding the Power of Community of Practice Lessons Learned from a

National Diversity Recruitment InitiativeDanielle Milam, ULC / Deborah Turner, U WA Information School

Community of Practice Outcomes

Benefits: opportunities to gain greater understanding

Challenges: the need to manage the wide variety of experiences

Finding the Power of Community of Practice Lessons Learned from a

National Diversity Recruitment InitiativeDanielle Milam, ULC / Deborah Turner, U WA Information School

Community of Practice TensionsChanging membership

Changing traditions

Extended community network

Finding the Power of Community of Practice Lessons Learned from a

National Diversity Recruitment InitiativeDanielle Milam, ULC / Deborah Turner, U WA Information School

RetentionRealistic expectationsSupport in meeting expectations

DiversityInitially shared ‘common’ experiencesLater shared more complex experiences

Finding the Power of Community of Practice Lessons Learned from a

National Diversity Recruitment InitiativeDanielle Milam, ULC / Deborah Turner, U WA Information School

Scholarly reflections

‘Hit the ground running’ expectation

“Secondary knowledge gap” concern

“Learning Profession” created?

Finding the Power of Community of Practice Lessons Learned from a

National Diversity Recruitment InitiativeDanielle Milam, ULC / Deborah Turner, U WA Information School

Outcomes

LIS Program Professors

LIS Program Administrators

LIS Profession

Finding the Power of Community of Practice Lessons Learned from a

National Diversity Recruitment InitiativeDanielle Milam, ULC / Deborah Turner, U WA Information School

Outcomes

Scholars

Public Libraries

Profession/Industry

Communities

Finding the Power of Community of Practice Lessons Learned from a

National Diversity Recruitment InitiativeDanielle Milam, ULC / Deborah Turner, U WA Information School

You Can Find Out More:

www.urbanlibraries.org