Members, Continue to practice caution in all activities. See exciting message below. Its content has been approved by the granting organization. Contact me at or Director Phoenix with questions. The HBCU Library Alliance is pleased to announce a generous gift from Pivotal Ventures, an investment and incubation company created by Melinda Gates, to further support the HBCU Library Alliance's mission to develop library leadership, design sustainable options to advance the organization and promote the contributions of HBCUs as stewards of African-American cultural records. Thanks to our Board colleagues who participated in discussions with Pivotal Ventures, sharing their insights and experiences in shaping the HBCU Library Alliance as a voice of advocacy for our community. And many thanks to the HBCU Library Alliance membership, as it is your work, dedication, commitment, and resilience that made this gift possible. With the support from Pivotal Ventures, we will continue to focus on the following activities, to increase the impact that they have within our community. HBCU Library Alliance Summer Internship Developing knowledge and skills that are critical to our libraries' success is a guiding component of the HBCU Library Alliance's mission. The Board has creatively designed a program to address diversity while promoting librarianship. Funded by the Kress Foundation and in partnership with the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation, the HBCU Library Alliance Conservation/Preservation Internship Program adds value to the undergraduate educational experience. This program, now in its third round, aims to diversify the library profession and provide our distinguished HBCU undergraduate interns with key library and archival preservation skills. Seven conservation/preservation laboratories are engaging with our esteemed interns for a virtual, eight-week, fully-funded internship hosted by Duke University (NC); Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas; Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library (DE); Brown University (RI); Harvard University (MA); University of Kansas; and the Library of Congress. Virtual Justice Project Our community is now tasked with an even greater call to action. In this critical season of work impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, our institutions are charged to bridge the digital divide so that resources, technology, and training are available to conduct virtual classes and support virtual students. The Board is encouraged by the HBCU Library Alliance's partnership with the Virtual Justice Project at the North Carolina Central University School of Law, which seeks to create Virtual Justice hubs at all institutions. A funding proposal is underway to provide participating institutions with high definition video teleconferencing equipment and training to support virtual instruction. Building Capacity for Humanities Special Collections at HBCUs The humanities collections of HBCUs hold unique cultural records and stories of the development and evolution of HBCUs dating back to the 1800s. These special collections offer irreplaceable documentation of the African-American experience in the 19th and 20th centuries that must be preserved and made accessible to complete an authentic narrative of American history. The National Endowment for the Humanities awarded the HBCU Library Alliance a five-year, one-to-one matching challenge grant of $365,000 to fund the "Building Capacity for Humanities Special Collections at HBCUs" program. Designed to address the long-term preservation and conservation of collections at member libraries, this project offers a menu of preservation planning documents, collection surveys, treatment and rehousing services, and educational programs. Through this outreach, the HBCU Library Alliance assists member libraries in building capacity for fundraising for special collection initiatives, documenting cultural heritage materials, increasing accessibility of special collection items, and promoting the humanities significance of their collections of rare materials and irreplaceable cultural heritage artifacts. The Board and staff have dedicated time toward fundraising for the match, assisted by Adrienne Lance Lucas of Lance Lucas & Associates. We were honored to highlight collections from member institutions that offer insight into the African-American experience, community and the value of HBCUs. HBCU Library Alliance/CLIR Project The HBCU Library Alliance and the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) have entered into a long-term partnership that aims to position HBCUs as centers of scholarly distinction with unparalleled special collections that illuminate clearly the value, significance, and contributions of HBCUs. An assessment project is being developed that will provide comprehensive data on hidden archival collections - those that are not processed and not accessible for research - at HBCUs. Through both surveys and local site visits, structured information will be gathered about individual collections around content, quantities, formats and conditions. This information will be accessible through a database for analysis and use by HBCUs, to inform decisions related to collection development, processing, digitization, and funding opportunities. There is undeniable potential for this project to support collaboration and increase the visibility of our collections. Our important work continues during these challenging times. With the support of Pivotal Ventures, our partners, and you, our members, we will reach further and achieve more to advance our mission and strengthen our HBCU community. Sincerely, Monika Rhue (Nooma) Leading Change Institute 2019 Class HBCU Library Alliance Board Chair Director of Library Services and Curation James B. Duke Memorial Library www.library.jcsu.edu<http://www.library.jcsu.edu/> Johnson C. Smith University mrhue@jcsu.edu<mailto:mrhue@jcsu.edu> 704-371-6730 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/