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 21 st Century Librarians grant funding.

Finding the Power of Community of Practice Lessons Learned from a National Diversity Recruitment Initiative Danielle 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 Initiative Danielle 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 Initiative Danielle 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 Initiative Danielle 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 Initiative Danielle 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 Initiative Danielle Milam, ULC / Deborah Turner, U WA Information School Community of Practice Tensions  Changing membership  Changing traditions  Extended community network

Finding the Power of Community of Practice Lessons Learned from a National Diversity Recruitment Initiative Danielle Milam, ULC / Deborah Turner, U WA Information School Retention  Realistic expectations  Support in meeting expectations Diversity  Initially shared ‘common’ experiences  Later shared more complex experiences

Finding the Power of Community of Practice Lessons Learned from a National Diversity Recruitment Initiative Danielle 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 Initiative Danielle 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 Initiative Danielle Milam, ULC / Deborah Turner, U WA Information School Outcomes  Scholars  Public Libraries  Profession/Industry  Communities

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