Diversity Residency Programs: Strategies for a Collaborative Approach to Development

Organizations across the United States are investing in diversity and inclusion programs with the goal of increasing the representation of underrepresented individuals (including gender, racial, and ethnic diversity) within the workforce. Libraries are not exempt from this pursuit. For years, diversity residency programs have been introduced at a number of institutions as a way to recruit a more diverse workforce. These programs are specifically designed to introduce early career librarians from underrepresented groups to academic librarianship. A residency program will most obviously prove transformative for the participating resident, however, a well-designed program will benefit all members of the host library as well. To varying degrees, each member of the library staff will have interactions with the residents and directly influence their experiences. In 2015 West Virginia University welcomed resident librarians through the newly formed Diversity Alliance residency program. Since then, the residents have had the opportunity to work in each of the library’s main units, form partnerships with key campus stakeholders, identify long-term professional goals, and contribute to the profession both locally and nationally. Based on experiences and lessons learned, this article serves as a road map for academic libraries interested in beginning an inclusive, transformative, and collaborative residency program