Through the DSP, the OSU Libraries and Press offers:

Paid, hands-on experience within a large institutional academic library:

• Opportunities to conduct informational interviews with library staff and faculty
• Job shadowing of a variety of positions in multiple departments throughout the academic year
• Departmental mini-projects

Full-time mentorship and support from the Diversity Scholars Committee and other faculty within OSU Libraries:

• Assistance and support in finding MLIS-based scholarships and networking opportunities
• The opportunity to utilize an entire committee of mentors, all with vast and diverse experiences and perspectives of librarianship

Diversity Scholars are students of color pursuing a MLIS degree. The Diversity Scholars Program has a particular emphasis on providing pathways for underrepresented students into library and archives careers.

While working toward attaining their degree, the Diversity Scholars will have a part-time position within the Valley Library in Corvallis, Oregon. The purpose of this program is to recruit, mentor, and retain people of underrepresented groups to the library and archives professions.

The Diversity Scholars Program is a cohort program hosting 2 scholars each academic year.

This program was inspired by a number of initiatives working to diversify the library profession and build capacity. 

Examples include:

• Association of Research Libraries’ Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce 
• American Library Association Spectrum Scholars 
• Association of College and Research Libraries Diversity Alliance 
• University of Arizona Knowledge River Program 
• University of Washington's Diversity Ambassador Program 
• ARL/SAA Mosaic Program 
• I 3 Program at Pitt 
• North Carolina State Fellows Program   
• Minnesota Institute for Early Career Librarians
• Residency Interest Group of ACRL