This poster presentation is a summary update of the recent 2020 ALISE Conn@ct mini-grant project: Integrating Immigrants into the LIS Workforce: A Pilot, Collaborative Project received by the REFORMA Education committee in collaboration with REFORMA Mid-Atlantic Chapter, Prince George’s County Memorial Library System, and Montgomery County Library System. This grant offered an opportunity to develop and integrate a social justice oriented approach for advancing education for future LIS professionals through research and development of a self-paced mini course, Careers in Libraries for Immigrants (CILI), on the introduction to librarianship for highly skilled immigrants. The online CILI program offers: self-paced lessons, short modules & activities, four different language translations (English, Spanish, Amharic, French) language translation, a behind-the-scenes public library tour and observation opportunities, and participant stipends. In response to gaps within current practice, this pilot recruitment project serves as a model for progressive community action within the library and information science field. There are currently limited avenues or resources for immigrants and refugees to deeply learn about U.S. librarianship as a career path. The project encourages LIS faculty and library professionals to include substantive content on how globalization, self-actualization, and immigration are intertwined through use of a specific framework.

Presenters: Dr. Michele Villagran
Date: Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)
Location: Virtual https://ali.memberclicks.net/alise-2021-schedule