KNOWLEDGE KNOWLEDGE RIVERRIVER

School of Information Resources and Library School of Information Resources and Library ScienceScienceUniversity of Arizona, TucsonUniversity of Arizona, Tucson

September 19, 2008 September 19, 2008 REFORMA National Conference IIIREFORMA National Conference IIIEl Paso, TexasEl Paso, Texas

PANELISTSPANELISTS

Jana Bradley, Director and Professor, SIRLSJana Bradley, Director and Professor, SIRLS

Patricia Montiel Overall, Assistant Professor, SIRLS, Patricia Montiel Overall, Assistant Professor, SIRLS, KR1 Scholar KR1 Scholar

Peggy Cabrera, Academic Librarian, San JosPeggy Cabrera, Academic Librarian, San Joséé State State University, KR1 ScholarUniversity, KR1 Scholar

Adriana Rendon, Reference Librarian, Pima County Adriana Rendon, Reference Librarian, Pima County Public Library, KR5 ScholarPublic Library, KR5 Scholar

Aaron Valdivia, Young Adult Services Librarian, Pima Aaron Valdivia, Young Adult Services Librarian, Pima County Public Library, KR5 Scholar, WE Search ChairCounty Public Library, KR5 Scholar, WE Search Chair

OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

Knowledge River: A Unique Approach Knowledge River: A Unique Approach

Accomplishments of Knowledge Accomplishments of Knowledge RiverRiver

Impact of Knowledge RiverImpact of Knowledge River

Community Outreach: WE SearchCommunity Outreach: WE Search

Knowledge River ExperiencesKnowledge River Experiences

WHAT IS KNOWLEDGE WHAT IS KNOWLEDGE RIVER?RIVER?

Master’s degree program at the School of Master’s degree program at the School of Information Resources and Library ScienceInformation Resources and Library Science

Started as the Knowledge River Institute in Started as the Knowledge River Institute in 2001, funded by a grant from IMLS, with 2001, funded by a grant from IMLS, with Patricia Tarín as the Knowledge River directorPatricia Tarín as the Knowledge River director

Supported by 4 IMLS grants: 2001, 2003, Supported by 4 IMLS grants: 2001, 2003, 2005, 20082005, 2008

““a Master’s degree program tailored to the needs a Master’s degree program tailored to the needs of Native Americans and Hispanics as learners of Native Americans and Hispanics as learners and to the information needs of the communities and to the information needs of the communities they represent.”they represent.” - IMLS 2001 grant abstract, Patricia Tar- IMLS 2001 grant abstract, Patricia Taríínn

UNIQUE APPROACHUNIQUE APPROACH

Cohort-basedCohort-based Specialized academic and social Specialized academic and social

supportsupport Culturally authentic classesCulturally authentic classes Professional development activities, Professional development activities,

focused on leadership and preparation focused on leadership and preparation for the job marketfor the job market““a retention program that takes into account a retention program that takes into account financial, academic and social aspects of the financial, academic and social aspects of the library school experience…and prepares students library school experience…and prepares students for the real world of work and the job search for the real world of work and the job search process”process” -IMLS 2003 grant abstract, Patricia TarínIMLS 2003 grant abstract, Patricia Tarín

CULTURALLY AUTHENTIC CULTURALLY AUTHENTIC CLASSESCLASSES

Knowledge River Foundation CourseKnowledge River Foundation CourseIRLS 550: Information Environments IRLS 550: Information Environments from Hispanic and Native American from Hispanic and Native American PerspectivesPerspectives

Courses developed by national leaders Courses developed by national leaders – Issues in Culture and Technology, Issues in Culture and Technology,

Richard ChabrRichard Chabráánn

– Information Policy and Cultural Perspectives, Information Policy and Cultural Perspectives, Elizabeth MartElizabeth Martííneznez

– Issues in Indigenous Information Services,Issues in Indigenous Information Services,Marty de MontaMarty de Montaññoo

COMMUNITY OUTREACH:COMMUNITY OUTREACH: WE Search (Wellness WE Search (Wellness Education)Education)

Purpose: to extend student Purpose: to extend student learning and benefits into the learning and benefits into the communitycommunity

Knowledge River mentors & high Knowledge River mentors & high school studentsschool students““guiding the high school students through an guiding the high school students through an extended (6-month) exploration of medical extended (6-month) exploration of medical librarianship while providing actual health librarianship while providing actual health information service within the Tucson adolescent information service within the Tucson adolescent community” community” - IMLS 2005 grant abstract, Patricia Tarín- IMLS 2005 grant abstract, Patricia Tarín

WE SEARCH: GoalsWE SEARCH: Goals

Curbing health Curbing health disparities (emphasis on disparities (emphasis on teen health issues and teen health issues and Latino and Native Latino and Native American health American health maladies) maladies)

Creating a community Creating a community of consumer health of consumer health information advocates information advocates and fostering an and fostering an interest in librarianshipinterest in librarianship

METHODOLOGY: METHODOLOGY: Four Module SystemFour Module System

Examining health disparities (the Examining health disparities (the problem)problem)

Resources at our disposal Resources at our disposal (information)(information)

Outreach (information power)Outreach (information power)

Permanent resource (reflect)Permanent resource (reflect)

IMLS GRANT # 3, 2005 - 2008IMLS GRANT # 3, 2005 - 2008

Included 3 cohorts: 4, 5, and 6Included 3 cohorts: 4, 5, and 6

Met its goalsMet its goals– Recruited 54 Hispanic and Native American Recruited 54 Hispanic and Native American

students, exceeding goal by 4students, exceeding goal by 4– Will graduate 45 students, meeting its target goalWill graduate 45 students, meeting its target goal– WE Search, in its second year, extremely WE Search, in its second year, extremely

successfulsuccessful– Sustainability plan for basic program, through Sustainability plan for basic program, through

continued support of our long-term library partnerscontinued support of our long-term library partners– Impact and consultant evaluation as the basis for Impact and consultant evaluation as the basis for

the futurethe future Provided for evaluation and assessmentProvided for evaluation and assessment Prepare for new fundingPrepare for new funding

2007-2008:2007-2008:PLANNING FOR THE FUTUREPLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

Impact studyImpact study UA Diversity Consultants: Focus UA Diversity Consultants: Focus

GroupsGroups Expanded Steering Committee Review, Expanded Steering Committee Review,

input, vision, goalsinput, vision, goals Financial Aid Advisory Committee: Financial Aid Advisory Committee:

Steering Committee MembershipSteering Committee Membership KR Manager Selection Committee: KR Manager Selection Committee:

Steering Committee membershipSteering Committee membership

EXTENDING KNOWLEDGE EXTENDING KNOWLEDGE RIVERRIVER::IMLS GRANT # 4, 2008-2011IMLS GRANT # 4, 2008-2011 Cohort 7: 15 students; recruiting cohort 8Cohort 7: 15 students; recruiting cohort 8 Foundational program Foundational program

– selective recruiting; selective recruiting; – culturally authentic courses;culturally authentic courses;– cohort building; cohort building; – careful advisement;careful advisement;– Development of leadership and job seeking skills;Development of leadership and job seeking skills;– WE Search. WE Search.

PlusPlus– Financial aid throughout 3-semester program: continuing Financial aid throughout 3-semester program: continuing

partners, new partners, new IMLS grant, increased SIRLS partners, new partners, new IMLS grant, increased SIRLS contributionscontributions

– Multi-culturalism through the curriculum; extending Multi-culturalism through the curriculum; extending researchresearch

– Plans to expand KR staff: KR director (faculty position), KR Plans to expand KR staff: KR director (faculty position), KR Manager (daily operations), KR assistants (grad students)Manager (daily operations), KR assistants (grad students)

– Cultural competency throughout SIRLS communityCultural competency throughout SIRLS community

LIBRARY PARTNERSLIBRARY PARTNERS

University of Arizona Libraries:University of Arizona Libraries: – Initial partner and continuing supporterInitial partner and continuing supporter– 8 assistantships in 2008-20098 assistantships in 2008-2009

Arizona Health Sciences Library: Arizona Health Sciences Library: – 2 Assistantships2 Assistantships– WE Search advisorsWE Search advisors

Pima County Public Library:Pima County Public Library: – IGA to support five 2IGA to support five 2ndnd year students as Community Service year students as Community Service

AssistantsAssistants– working at PCPLworking at PCPL

Arizona State Library:Arizona State Library: – 2 Cultural Community Assistantships, 2 Cultural Community Assistantships, – working at libraries in the stateworking at libraries in the state

FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITYFINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

Foundational program for 12 students for one Foundational program for 12 students for one yearyear– Assistantships with library partnersAssistantships with library partners– SIRLS increased fundingSIRLS increased funding– IMLS funding extends to 14-16 in first yearIMLS funding extends to 14-16 in first year

Second year fundingSecond year funding– IMLS: WE SearchIMLS: WE Search– PCPL Community Service AssistantshipsPCPL Community Service Assistantships– State Library Cultural Community AssistantshipState Library Cultural Community Assistantship

Fund-raising in the next 3 years for post-IMLS Fund-raising in the next 3 years for post-IMLS fundingfunding

HOW HAVE WE DONE?HOW HAVE WE DONE?

78 graduates, May 2008 (54 78 graduates, May 2008 (54 Hispanic Latino; 24 Native Hispanic Latino; 24 Native American)American)

19 in the pipeline (not counting 12-19 in the pipeline (not counting 12-15 new cohort 7 admits who start 15 new cohort 7 admits who start this summer)this summer)– Hispanic/Latino:Hispanic/Latino: 1010– Native American:Native American: 99

GRADUATESGRADUATES

As of May, 2008, 78 students have graduated from As of May, 2008, 78 students have graduated from SIRLS with the assistance of Knowledge RiverSIRLS with the assistance of Knowledge River

54

24

Hispanic/Latino

NativeAmerican

STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM (NOT COUNTING IN THE PROGRAM (NOT COUNTING KR7)KR7)

19 students currently in program19 students currently in program– Hispanic/Latino: Hispanic/Latino: 1010– Native American:Native American: 99

COHORT 7:COHORT 7:SUMMER/FALL 2008SUMMER/FALL 2008

15 students in cohort 7 Assistantships

University of Arizona Main LibraryAHSLPima County Public Library

IRLS 550: Information Environments from Latino &

Native American Perspectives

Academic Advising for students

GRADUATE PLACEMENTGRADUATE PLACEMENT

Public LibrariansPublic Librarians– Branch ManagersBranch Managers– Library of CongressLibrary of Congress

Academic LibrariansAcademic Librarians– DinDiné College Libraryé College Library

Faculty Faculty – School of Information Resources & Library ScienceSchool of Information Resources & Library Science

Book EditorBook Editor ArchivistArchivist School LibrariansSchool Librarians Technology SpecialistTechnology Specialist

GRADUATE HONORSGRADUATE HONORS

Testimony Before CongressTestimony Before Congress Caldecott Awarded CommitteeCaldecott Awarded Committee Emerging LeadersEmerging Leaders Movers and ShakersMovers and Shakers Fellowships: NLMFellowships: NLM

IMPACT OF KNOWLEDGE IMPACT OF KNOWLEDGE RIVER: RIVER: School of Information Resources & School of Information Resources & Library ScienceLibrary Science

Classroom LearningClassroom Learning

Student LeadershipStudent Leadership

Culturally Culturally Competent Competent CommunityCommunity

IMPACT OF KNOWLEDGE IMPACT OF KNOWLEDGE RIVER:RIVER:University of ArizonaUniversity of Arizona

Diversity programsDiversity programs

Involvement in the Involvement in the larger University of larger University of Arizona communityArizona community

Role-modeling for Role-modeling for Latino & Native Latino & Native American studentsAmerican students

IMPACT OF KNOWLEDGE IMPACT OF KNOWLEDGE RIVER:RIVER:City of Tucson & State of ArizonaCity of Tucson & State of Arizona

Community Service Community Service AssistantshipsAssistantships

Cultural Cultural Community Community AssistantshipsAssistantships

Local OrganizationsLocal Organizations

Local Libraries Local Libraries

IMPACT OF KNOWLEDGE IMPACT OF KNOWLEDGE RIVER:RIVER:NationwideNationwide

National LibrariesNational Libraries

Professional Professional OrganizationsOrganizations

National & Regional National & Regional ConferencesConferences

National AdvocacyNational Advocacy

Projects & Projects & CollaborationsCollaborations

KNOWLEDGE RIVER KNOWLEDGE RIVER EXPERIENCESEXPERIENCES

Cohort ExperienceCohort Experience Cultural CompetenceCultural Competence NetworkNetwork LeadershipLeadership What else?What else?

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

CONTACT KNOWLEDGE CONTACT KNOWLEDGE RIVERRIVER

Website:Website: www.knowledgeriver.arizona.edu

Email:Email: kriver@mail.sbs.arizona.edu kriver@mail.sbs.arizona.edu

Mail:Mail: 1515 E. First Street, Tucson, AZ 1515 E. First Street, Tucson, AZ 8571985719

Phone:Phone: (520) 621-3958 (520) 621-3958

Visit us in the exhibit hall this weekend!Visit us in the exhibit hall this weekend!