Spectrum Initiative Looking Back to Move Forward Our

Spectrum Initiative: Looking Back to Move Forward Our Mission – improving service at the local level through the development of a representative workforce that reflects the communities served by all libraries in the new millennium. • ALA Executive Board approves proposal for Spectrum Initiative. • Steering Committee members selected. • Spectrum Committee Chairs selected "The support I received from the fellowship of Spectrum scholars has encouraged me to continue in my pursuit and to work harder to meet my goals, both academically and professionally. " --Nance Espinosa 1996 • Council Committee on Minority Concerns & Cultural Diversity lead campaign to raise $1, 000 for Minority Scholarship Endowment. • ALA Executive Board develops a proposal to increase diversity in the profession. • First class of 50 Spectrum Scholars announced. • Committed funding donors for include 5 ALA accredited masters programs, 2 public libraries, 2 state library associations & the Black Caucus of Chicago. 2003 1997 "A Spectrum Scholar has energy-the universal kind that lights up our worlds, that gives us strength, and tolerance, and hope. " --Elizabeth Martinez Augusto Consing 1998 Spectrum Scholar 1998 • ACRL supports 5 Scholars • Spectrum Advisory Committee Established • ACRL Spectrum Scholar Mentor Task Force established Amy Gonzalez Ferguson 2001 Spectrum Scholar 2001 • Gwendolyn (Wendy) Prellwitz began serving as the first Communications Officer. • Medical Library Association/National Library of Medicine commit $50, 000 toward one $5, 000 Scholarship a year for ten years. "I beli eve th at the have a m o c st valu q u i r ed thr netwo able to ough rking. ol tha t h I i h s t. I ave m inspir e x p e rience e e t m m e a word n t o b e medio the be y librarian is s that cre do st I ca es not n be— the exist i n my m ind. ” --Terry Carlso n • Versed, the Bulletin of the ALA Office for Diversity, premiers at Annual Conference. • PLA provides travel grants to Spectrum Scholars to attend PLA 2004 conference. 2004 • Spectrum Doctoral Fellowship introduced • Spectrum 2. 0: Blog, Wiki, Flickr, Myspace, and Facebook presence established 2005 • Awarded a $1 million, 3 year grant from the IMLS 2006 Elisia L. Johnson 2002 Spectrum Scholar 1999 Maria E. Gonzalez 1999 Spectrum Scholar • American Libraries publishes the first article on Spectrum, "Can Librarians Play Basketball? " • The first Spectrum Leadership Institute, New Orleans • 1999 -2000 Scholars announced • Several LIS programs begin offering matching funds to scholars 2000 • ALA Executive Board allocates $1 million to the Spectrum Endowment Fund • Receives $52, 000 from Religion & Ethics Institute to endow the Howard M. and Gladys B. Teeple scholarship. Office for Diversity, American Library Association “New Faces, New Era” brochure unveiled. Public Library Association donates $100, 000 Michael Moore, film producer donates $25, 000 William R. Gordon Scholarship established 2002 Elisabeth Rodriguez 2005 Spectrum Scholar "A new era of librarianship has indeed begun, as more than 200 new Spectrum faces can attest. “ --Hector Escobar, Jr. 2007 • Inaugural 6 Spectrum Doctoral Fellows announced • Awarding 80 scholarships for 2007 -2008 • Award from IMLS grant