An invitation to participation in a focus group The Statewide California Electronic Library Consortium (SCELC<https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fscelc.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cvcoleman%40ncat.edu%7C09bc5953fcff49d8cb0a08db0f62b04d%7Cd844dd75a4d74b1fbd33bc0b1c796c38%7C0%7C0%7C638120688780924043%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=B4reHfedlr8b87wVUDyzsvDdoZAMDmTaVgkvWnG%2B4D4%3D&reserved=0>) and the Eastern Academic Scholars' Trust (EAST<https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eastlibraries.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cvcoleman%40ncat.edu%7C09bc5953fcff49d8cb0a08db0f62b04d%7Cd844dd75a4d74b1fbd33bc0b1c796c38%7C0%7C0%7C638120688780924043%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=lrSJlrIIMIYYsjBs7AhTzsvOKU4532gmrFqnMLN3Dx0%3D&reserved=0>) were awarded an IMLS National Leadership for Libraries Planning Grant in July of 2022 entitled "Community Strategies to Expand Diversity and Inclusivity in the Collective Collection of Shared Print<https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fscelc.org%2Fscelc-east-shared-print-project&data=05%7C01%7Cvcoleman%40ncat.edu%7C09bc5953fcff49d8cb0a08db0f62b04d%7Cd844dd75a4d74b1fbd33bc0b1c796c38%7C0%7C0%7C638120688780924043%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=1v21v%2FdrcdVw56grdjGQJzfqNoMIswBSCTUTLhhVELw%3D&reserved=0>". A major component of the work is to engage with representatives of minority-serving institutions, particularly HBCU's and Hispanic Serving Institutions to better understand their perceptions of shared print programs and barriers to participation in them. Beginning in September of 2022, SCECL and EAST convened a Community Council* of such representatives as part of the initial grant goal of community building. This Council provides leadership, feedback on programmatic activities, and general advice and counsel throughout the two years of the planning grant. In December, the Community Council met to review the program assessments completed by both SCELC and EAST, both of which identified possible barriers to participation in shared print as well as reviewed approaches to overcoming these barriers. As a follow-up to these discussions, the project team is convening a series of Focus Group/Interview sessions with additional representatives of groups serving minority-serving institutions, particularly libraries at HBCU and HSI colleges and universities. These discussions will focus on understanding the role of print collections in serving users, library, and institutional perspectives on the value of shared print programs, and ways barriers to participation in shared print can be addressed or overcome. Library deans and directors as well as senior library staff from HBCU and HSI institutions are encouraged to participate and share their perspectives. As a member of the Community Council, I am reaching out to you in the hopes we can convene a Focus Group with HBCU colleagues. If you are interested, by Friday, March 3, 2023, please email Susan Stearns, Project Director at EAST at sstearns@blc.org<mailto:sstearns@blc.org>. Susan will be scheduling the Focus Group sessions and will provide you with further details on participation. *The Community Council includes: * Loretta Parham, CEO and Director, Atlanta University Center Woodruff Library * Dr. Blanche Sanders, Dean of Libraries, Alcorn State University * Dr. Richard Bradberry, Director of Library Services, Morgan State University * Tracy Gilmore, Collection Development Librarian, California State University, Long Beach * Dr. Romelia Salinas, Dean of Library and Learning Resources, Mt .San Antonio College * Nancy Hampton, Interim Library Director, Xavier University of Louisiana * Vicki Coleman, Dean of Library Services, North Carolina A&T State University ------- NOTICE: This e-mail correspondence is subject to Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties. --------