Dr. Michele Villagran (Associate Professor School of Information) will be a panelist with Leanne Hillery (Head of Resource Description & Collection Maintenance Old Dominion University Libraries), Lucinda Wittkower (Head, Libraries Education & Assessment Old Dominion University Libraries), and Dr. Mantra Roy (Collections Strategy Librarian King Library).

This panel highlights the processes of establishing mentorship and internship opportunities for BIPOC undergraduate students in order for them to learn about careers in librarianship. Demystifying the profession can inspire many BIPOC students to apply for MLIS programs and then enter the profession. Developing a pipeline to create more diversity in the profession begins with making the profession more visible to students early on in their undergraduate studies. Objective 1: Participants will consider characteristics of effective library internships and mentorships. Objective 2: Participants will understand BIPOC undergraduate student intern perspectives about careers in libraries and information sciences. Objective 3: Participants will strategize ways in which they might develop an internship or mentorship program in their own organizations

Presenter: Dr. Michele Villagran
Date: Friday, April 4, 2024
Time: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (Central Time)
Location: ACRL 2025