Pilot
Project to Improve Diversity of Oberlin's Library Collections
Mentor(s): Eric Carpenter
Department: Collection Development
Aspects of librarianship related to the project: Acquisitions
and Collection Development, especially evaluation of a library's
collection in light of specific curricular needs related to diversity.
Number of openings: 1
Estimated length of project: minimum 8 weeks, July -August,
probable continuation during Fall semester 2001
Hours/day: 2 hours/day (10 hours/week)
Dates available: July-August, probable extension into
Fall semester, 2001
Preferred skills/knowledge: Intellectual curiosity and
willingness to learn why and how a library shapes its collections;
course work in a wide range of humanities and social sciences
subjects; abilities needed: think clearly, write well, communicate
with faculty, complete highly detailed work with accuracy.
Additional comments: This is an important pilot project
for collection evaluation. During it we will develop a model for
future collection evaluation projects related to diversity, so
it will be an opportunity for an intern to participate in some
serious professional work. Project length is uncertain and will
depend upon the rate at which the initial, important stages of
the project can be completed. Once bibliographies to check have
been identified it will be possible to more accurately gauge how
long it will take to complete specific list checking projects
and generate orders for specific titles.
Description: This is a pilot project to involve IMLS interns
in an ongoing effort to improve diversity in Oberlin's library
collections. It will focus on developing an effective model for
devising collecting profiles for specific areas of the Oberlin
library collection related to diversity (e.g. African American,
Asian American, Hispanic, Native American, and Queer Studies).
The intern working on this project will help determine which area
of the collection will be the focus of this first project. The
intern will first compile a list of all Oberlin courses currently
offered in the area of diversity chosen. S/he will then review
faculty and department web pages to learn as much as possible
about these courses and their possible library needs. Next the
intern will prepare a questionnaire in preparation for interviewing
each faculty member offering courses in this area regarding library
use by themselves and their students. One objective of these interviews
will be to identify library resources (print and electronic) which
the faculty want the library to provide to support these courses.
After the interviews the intern and the Collection Development
Librarian will identify specific bibliographies and other resources
to check against Oberlin's holdings. The intern will then check
these against OBIS, identify titles Oberlin needs to buy, and
help prepare orders for these titles.
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