Colleagues,
Please help us gather important information to ensure the success of existing and future leadership development training programs (LDTs) for diverse groups!
The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is engaging in important research exploring the effects of formal LDT experiences on the retention and advancement of academic and research librarians from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups (URGs). This inquiry will explore and compare the experience of library and information science (LIS) professionals in LDTs that are designed and delivered specifically for those constituencies against others without that demographic focus. We will be conducting several in-person focus groups, facilitated by an expert external consultant, where we will be collecting qualitative data about those experiences and to determine the strengths and weaknesses of delivering LDTs in cohorts of URGs. In addition, we would like to collect feedback concerning program elements that are perceived as having an enduring effect on behaviors, engagement, and career trajectories.
Currently, we are recruiting participants for focus group sessions to be held during the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Chicago, January 30 through February 2, 2015. (You need not be registered for or attending ALA Midwinter to participate in the focus groups.) We are searching for people who have participated in at least one LDT program for URGs and another without that focus. If you fit this criterion and are willing to dedicate 90-120 minutes for these important discussions, please complete the brief questionnaire (link below) to indicate your availability. The questionnaire will collect basic demographic and professional information, as well as data about the LDT experiences in which you have participated.
Even if you are not attending the ALA Midwinter meeting, we hope to convene other focus groups either in geographic areas where we have a sufficient population of eligible candidates, or in conjunction with other professional meetings. Your response to the questionnaire would be very helpful in determining these subsequent sessions.
https://arl.formstack.com/forms/untitled_form_12
All selected focus group participants will receive a $15 Amazon gift card as a token of appreciation. Light refreshments will be served
In order to be considered for the January focus groups, please complete the brief questionnaire by next Friday, December 12, 2014.
Please feel free to email me if you have any questions.
Participation and Confidentiality
Participation in the focus group is voluntary. Data collected and analyzed will result in written reports to be shared with the ARL Committee on Diversity and Leadership, the ARL Board, and disseminated in other venues as appropriate. All data collected will be completely confidential and comments will be shared in written reports with no attribution. No identifying information (demographic, professional, or otherwise) will be shared that would link directly to the focus group participant.
Please distribute this announcement as appropriate!
All best to everyone.
Mark
Mark A. Puente
Director of Diversity and Leadership Programs
Association of Research Libraries
21 Dupont Circle, NW
Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
(202)296-2296
mpuente@arl.org
http://www.arl.org/diversity/
http://www.arl.org/leadership/