2012 was a spectacular year for fundraising at the Smithsonian Libraries. The fiscal year began in October with a $1 million leadership gift for acquisitions relating to the American Experience from Augustus and Deanne Miller. Gus, an alumnus of the Smithsonian National Board, now serves as Chair of the Smithsonian Libraries Advisory Board and chairs the Libraries’ campaign.
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The Smithsonian Libraries will award grants to Dibner Library Resident Scholars and Baird Society Resident Scholars for the 2014 calendar year. These competitive short-term grants are offered for one to six months to historians, librarians and bibliographers, as well as predoctoral and postdoctoral students, with an approved research project.
It is no secret that today’s job market is a dog-eat-dog world. With unemployment rates at record highs, the future that many college graduates see on the horizon is a grim and scary place. However, University of California, Berkeley has created a program to help better prepare their students for the post-graduate battlefield. The Externship Program creates opportunities for students to get hands-on experience in a chosen career field during their winter break. The program is made possible by UC Berkeley alumni who generously share their time with undergraduates who are ready to explore a career. Depending on the sponsors availability, the externships can range from one day to one month. Although many other notable universities such as Cornell, USC, Boston College, and University of Pennsylvania have similar externship programs, it is still a relatively unknown opportunity. Below, Haley and Kaylie share their experience working at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.
In celebration of Black History Month, we would like to highlight five notable African American librarians. This post was written by Anacostia Community Museum librarian, Baasil Wilder.
Five African American Librarians who have made significant contributions to librarianship in America by transforming our profession and paving the way for all races:
The Smithsonian Libraries has received an unrestricted donation of $1 million from Hope L. and John L Furth. This extraordinary gift builds upon the Furth’s existing endowment to the Smithsonian Libraries begun in 2005, which is used to further the Smithsonian Libraries’ mission and strategic initiatives.
When wealthy real estate developer William Elmer Harmon founded the Harmon Foundation in 1922, it originally supported causes as varied as playgrounds, biblical films and nursing programs. But it is better known today as one of the first major supporters of African American creativity and ingenuity.
Grace Costantino, Program Manager for the Biodiversity Heritage Library, was awarded a National Museum of Natural History Peer Recognition award as “Social Media Maven” at the building’s ceremony on December 11.