www.hbculibraries.org/
Greetings Colleagues,
I trust you’re well. Today I’m celebrating the Preserving the Story of the HBCU Library Alliance project! Funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the goal of this project is to document and disseminate the Alliance’s history and accomplishments via peer-review journals. Additionally, eight separate stories will be written on specific activities of member libraries to be disseminated via non-peer review journals. A major outcome of this project is increasing the Alliance’s visibility and ability to acquire grants and secure new funding sources, thus increasing opportunities for organizational sustainability.
New Hire - Project Coordinator/Writer
I’m pleased to announce that Dr. Shanesha Brooks-Tatum has accepted the Project Coordinator/Writer employment offer. Shanesha completed her Ph.D from the University of Michigan in May 2010, and is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Atlanta University Center Woodruff Library. At AUC, Shanesha has done extensive writing, featuring the Tupac Shakur Papers, the Gardner C. Taylor Collection, and most recently, the Countee Cullen/Harold Jackman Memorial Collection.
She and I have begun orientation and Shanesha is scheduling activities to begin the research for this significant project. You will hear from her in the very near future as she learns the story of the Alliance and activities within our members institutions. Shanesha’s contact info is listed below.
Shanesha Brooks-Tatum
sbrooks-tatum@hbculibraries.org
734-717-9292
Historical Document
The historical document that details the history of the HBCU Library Alliance will serve as a strategic effort to establish greater sustainability for the organization and improve organizational visibility. The document will be published, shared with member institutions and the larger library community and serve as a model for other academic or special libraries. The proposed document would be a history of the HBCU Library Alliance beginning in 2001 at the then Southeastern Library Network (SOLINET) Board of Director meetings where discussions began about the need to strengthen and support libraries at HBCUs. The document would provide a detailed timeline of HBCU Library Alliance projects and activities. The targeted audience for this document is the grant-makers community, graduate community of library and information science and its faculty and students.
Member Success Stories
Eight success story documents will be written on specific activities of select Alliance members. The member activities described below provide an example of the foundation for the documents.
Atlanta University Center Woodruff Library (GA) - The HBCU Library Alliance produced “The State of Libraries at HBCUs” in 2005. The study is a statistical comparison of key indicators of library service and effectiveness of HBCUs, their peers and aspirants. Use of the statistical review provided data that was used to gain project approval and funding for the first phase of the Atlanta University Center Woodruff Library (GA) renovation, which was completed in May 2010. The construction project was designed to transform and propel the Library closer to its vision of being a GREAT library that is the first and best choice for the Atlanta University Center Community. Phase I encompassed more than 130,000 square feet of the Library’s 220,000-square-foot facility. Renovated spaces include a new main level Learning Commons with a Technology Design Studio, totally redesigned archives reading room, new Graduate Study and Quiet Study Suites, as well as new and refurbished collaborative study rooms. This is the first major interior upgrade since the building’s dedication in 1982. The renovation provides students with a state-of-the-art facility to meet their research needs.
Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA - The HBCU Library Alliance, through its Exchange Program, provides an opportunity for an HBCU librarian and an ASERL librarian to work together on a project of strategic importance. The John B. Cade Library at Southern University is undergoing a re-invention to combine the reference, information technology and circulation departments. The University of Florida has undergone re-invention and was matched to support the Exchange Librarian’s project. Southern University’s re-invention provides enhanced quality services for students, faculty and community users. Combining the departments allows students to use information technology to enable their research. Information technology is the common thread that binds these areas and can be serviced from a single point. The John B. Cade Library re-invention was strengthened as a result of the experience of the Exchange librarian involved in this project.
Your Success Story
Begin thinking about your library’s success story for dissemination via non-peer reviewed journals. Look for Shanesha’s post to the distribution list and respond as soon as possible.
Twitter Account
Let’s tweet our ideas and suggestions about this project to http://twitter.com/HBCULAPrsrvStry. Go to your twitter account to log in or to www.twitter.com to open a new account.
I’ll keep you informed on this exciting journey to preserve the story of the HBCU Library Alliance.
Respectfully,
Sandra
SANDRA M. PHOENIX
Program Director
HBCU Library Alliance
sphoenix@hbculibraries.org
www.hbculibraries.org
404.592.4820
Skype:sandra.phoenix1
1438 West Peachtree Street NW
Suite 200
Atlanta, GA 30309
Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis)
Fax: 404.892.7879
www.lyrasis.org
Honor the ancestors, honor the children.
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