ABOUT KNOWLEDGE RIVER
Knowledge River (KR) began in 2002, funded substantially by the Institute of Museum and Library Studies (IMLS). Knowledge River charted new territory in programs for addressing diversity in LIS education. Initially a collaboration between the School of Information Resources and Library Science (SIRLS), and the University Library at the University of Arizona, and later joined by the Arizona Health Science Library, Knowledge River was crafted and directed from its inception until fall 2007 by Patricia Tarin. It combined a financial aid program for Hispanic and Native Americans with elements previously not united in programs for minority groups. These elements included a residential cohort approach, emphasizing customized advising support; a suite of courses focusing on library and information issues from Hispanic and Native American perspectives; recruitment of major national figures as part-time faculty and advisors; and an emphasis on providing Knowledge River Scholars with practical library experience, professional development and outreach opportunities.
Knowledge River has had a strong impact on SIRLS, Arizona and the nation. It has become a nationally acclaimed and highly visible exemplar of diversity LIS education. When current students graduate, the KR program will have educated over 100 Hispanic and Native American librarians. These librarians have found jobs in diverse library and information venues, locally, regionally and nationally, and many are considered emergent leaders in the library profession. A 2004 study undertaken by Patricia Tarin and Bruce Fulton for the Arizona State Library, Archive, and Public Records, indicates some dimensions of its impact.
With the context of the strong foundation provided by Knowledge River in its first five years, SIRLS and Knowledge River have, in the fall of 2007, undertaken an extensive planning process to set directions for another five-year period, beginning in the academic year 2008-2009. The planning process has included focus groups conducted by university planning experts with SIRLS constituencies: KR students, KR alums, SIRLS faculty, and the professional library community interested in Knowledge River. The results of the focus groups were the basis for an all-day meeting with the newly expanded KR Steering and Advisory committee, and notes from the meeting widely circulated for comment to SIRLS constituencies.
Goals for the next five year period of Knowledge River, which we are calling Knowledge River II, will be available on this site in the next several weeks.
