Tori Culler
North Carolina State University Libraries Fellow
North Carolina State University
Kevin Beswick
Interim Associate Head, Digital Library Initiatives
North Carolina State University
Recruiting candidates for technical positions in libraries is often challenging, especially in regards to underrepresented groups. This project briefing will highlight a new effort by North Carolina State University (NCSU) libraries that aims to combat this: The Library Technology Career Jumpstart Program. The Jumpstart program is a free, immersive, week-long, virtual experience that was held for the first time on Aug. 3-7th, 2020. The goals of the program include raising awareness about career opportunities in technical librarianship, creating a welcoming and inclusive space where a diverse cohort can learn from each other, and providing concrete steps forward towards a career pathway in library technology by imparting strategies for learning technical skills. Members of the planning committee will share the process of preparing for, implementing, and assessing this multifaceted program. The team hopes that this work will contribute to broader conversations concerning the Library and Information Science (LIS) pipeline and the ways in which technical skill building is currently approached within LIS curricula.
