MELLON GRANT WILL FUND PROGRAM TO TRAIN PH.D.'S AS RESEARCH LIBRARIANS

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- A $164,000 grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to the Indiana University Bloomington (IUB) Libraries will be used to launch a program that prepares area studies Ph.D.'s for positions as research librarians.

Under the new program, post-doctoral students who have already studied a certain area of the world extensively will learn aspects of librarianship under the guidance of an experienced area studies librarian. The knowledge these fellows have already acquired in their doctoral studies -- whether in literature, history, or the social sciences -- will provide the foundation upon which to build the information and instructional skills necessary to become an area studies librarian.

"At a time when interest in global studies is gaining scholarly importance and widespread popularity, area studies librarians play a critical role in helping others to understand the world's cultures," said Suzanne Thorin, University Dean of University Libraries. "We want the IU Bloomington Libraries to play an even greater role by helping to prepare these valuable specialists." Indiana University's goal, she said, is to increase the pool and the talents of those entering the profession of area studies librarianship.

Area studies librarians possess the specialized knowledge of certain geographic areas, regions, or cultures, and select the research materials that support their study. In addition to identifying and locating research materials for scholars and students, these librarians also help scholars create the links that are essential to understanding how the world's cultures and regions interrelate. Such connections provide the basis for comprehensive global studies.

The need to train additional area studies librarians nationwide emerged as a priority at the 1993 annual meeting of Title VI area studies center directors, where it was determined that many area studies librarians area nearing the age of retirement.

In African Studies alone, for example, there are only about 30 African Studies bibliographers nationwide, and five of these individuals will retire within the next five years.

"Indiana University is a leader in international studies and programs and in library studies and collections; it makes good sense that we use the talents and resources we have to ensure the future knowledge base of these areas," said IU President Myles Brand. "This program taps into our institutional strengths and helps guarantee that we will provide leaders for the future, as well as continue to provide first-rate services to our students and faculty."

The post-doctoral fellows will apprentice under an area studies librarian and gain critical hands-on experience by working with the appropriate academic department at Indiana University and traveling to other libraries with extensive African or Slavic collections. In addition, they may audit selected relevant courses at IU's School of Library and Information Science.

The fellowship program also builds on the strengths of the collections of the IUB Libraries. The African Studies Collection includes materials in European and more than 30 African languages and is considered by many to be among the top five collections nation ally. The Libraries' Slavic Collection has exceptionally strong holdings for the Bohemian lands, the Hapsburg Empire, Poland, Slovenia, and Yugoslavia. Of particular importance is the Estonian collection, considered by many to be unsurpassed in the country.

IU boasts eight international programs that are recognized and awarded funds through the U.S. Department of Education Title VI National Resource and Fellowship Program. Two of these programs -- the African Studies Program and the Russian and East European Institute -- will serve as models as Indiana University advances the field of area studies with support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation award.

Thorin and President Brand serve on the advisory board of the Association of American Universities/American Research Libraries Global Resources Program. This program, created in December 1996 with funds from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, has as its principal goal to improve access to international research resources.

For information, contact Martha Brogan, Director of Collection Development and University Bibliographer, IU Libraries, at mbrogan@indiana.edu or telephone 812-855-3403.

(Ellen K. Mathia, 812-855-0085 or 812-855-3911, emathia@indiana.edu)

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