The University of Southern Mississippi (University of Southern Mississippi, School of Library and Information Science)

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) School of Library and Information Science and the USM University Libraries will partner with the Mississippi Library Association and the Mississippi Library Commission to increase the number of underrepresented minority librarians in the state. Through targeted recruiting of minority undergraduates in Mississippi's universities and colleges, the project will award IMLS-funded scholarships to support 10 students earning a master's degree in librarianship. Scholarship recipients will gain experience and establish professional and interpersonal bonds with other librarians through mentoring and work assignments in the partnering organizations. Project staff will also conduct surveys and gather other data from these students to help improve minority recruitment and retention efforts in both libraries and library and information science education programs.