HBCU Library Alliance Announces Brown University as First Non-HBCU Member ATLANTA (February 5, 2020) - Today, the HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Library Alliance announced Brown University as its first non-HBCU member. As the inaugural non-HBCU institution, Brown, a private Ivy League research university in Providence, R.I., will join HBCUs across the country to enhance their work, mission and influence. "This is such an exciting opportunity for the HBCU Library Alliance and Brown University to collaboratively advance the HBCU library and academic community," said Monika Rhue, Board Chair. "As the HBCU Library Alliance continues its transformation, a partnership with Brown creates opportunities for mutual teaching and learning while strategically enhancing our efforts to improve service delivery to members." "At this very critical time is our nation's history, diversifying the membership base will continue to enhance opportunities to develop meaningful collaborative relationships and forge new strategic partnerships that will further demonstrate the value of the HBCU Library Alliance community," said Sandra Phoenix, Executive Director. "On behalf of the Brown University Library, we are deeply honored to have been invited to join the HBCU Library Alliance as its first affiliate non-HBCU member," said Joseph Meisel, University Librarian. "I'm especially grateful to Ms. Phoenix and Associate University Librarian for Special Collections Amanda Strauss for working to create this opportunity. We're greatly looking forward to collaborating with our new Alliance partners on a range of exciting projects and exploring what we can achieve together." In 2017, HBCU Library Alliance members approved a bylaws change that opened membership to individuals and to non-HBCU institutions by invitation only. Potential non-HBCU members include those institutions that have previously partnered with or supported the HBCU Library Alliance's mission of developing leaders, preserving collections and planning for the future of HBCUs. In addition to its recent affiliation with the HBCU Library Alliance, Brown has partnered with Tougaloo College, a Mississippi HBCU, since 1964. This partnership is designed to enrich both campuses through student and faculty academic and cultural exchanges, collaborative research ventures and administrative level engagements. ### About the HBCU Library Alliance The HBCU Library Alliance is a consortium that supports the collaboration of information professionals dedicated to providing an array of resources designed to strengthen Historically Black Colleges and Universities and their constituents. Additional information about the HBCU Library Alliance is available at hbculibraries.org<http://hbculibraries.org/>. Sandra M. Phoenix HBCU Library Alliance Executive Director Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW Atlanta GA 30314 404-978-2118 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> Honor the ancestors, honor the children and those yet to come. Building Capacity for Humanities Special Collections at HBCUs - Become an ally and partner with us to protect, preserve and share a more authentic record of American history. Follow this link http://hbculibraries.org/humanities-2019.html for more information. Follow this link http://hbculibraries.org/ and click on the Donate Now button to invest in this project. Your support is appreciated. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter at https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/