About the Authenticity Project
The Authenticity Project, hosted jointly by the HBCU Library Alliance and the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR)/Digital Library Federation (DLF), is an IMLS-funded mentoring and professional development program for HBCU library workers.
The goal of the program is to build a more diverse, inclusive, collaborative, and cohesive next-generation digital library workforce, ready to work across types of institutions in building infrastructure of various kinds (social and technological) in service to a wide array of communities.
In 2019, 15 Fellows were matched with one Mentor and one Conversation partner. In 2022, 10 Fellows were matched with two Mentors.
The 2022 Cohort included program facilitators who led discussions on topics such as:
- What it means to be a mentor
- Expectations for this program
- The Mentor/Mentee relationship is reciprocal
- What does it mean to be authentic?
- Change management
- Emotional wellbeing
- Crucial conversations and active listening
During the interim session for the 2022 Cohort, mentors & other participants led professional development sessions on the following topics:
- Digital preservation
- National membership organizations
- Academic librarianship
- Project management
- Programming and HTML
- Experience attending HBCUs and working with them as institutions
Outcomes for Fellows
The following outcomes were outlined for Fellows:
- Find safe and supportive spaces for professional growth within their fellowship cohorts.
- Forge meaningful relationships with mentoring LIS professionals and staff/board members at the HBCU Library Alliance and Digital Library Federation.
- Engage in regular networking sessions and in-depth discussions that encourage conversation and relationship- and skill-building.
- Receive full support to attend and present at the DLF Forum and Learn@DLF events in their fellowship year.
The mentorship program also emphasized the importance of the reciprocal relationship between mentor and mentee.
