friday's in may

 

Welcome!

We’re so excited to announce Fridays in May: QBIPOC Peer-Networking Program which aims to supply QBIPOC information professionals and students an opportunity to engage in a peer network across disciplines and institutions. Though COVID has shifted many to have solitary library school experiences, or lack of site-based learning, Fridays in May will supply participants with forums for exploratory and site-based conversation in a peer-based community setting, creating an opportunity for skill-sharing, info-gathering, networking, and peer-mentorship. This program will include in-person tours, workshops, and mediated conversations led by, with and among QBIPOC library, archives, and information professionals across NYC metropolitan area on topics related to engagement, exhibitions, collections processing, queer histories, professionalism in queer contexts, and more. 

Fridays in May will take place in person each May Friday from May 3rd, 2024 to May 31st 2024. This opportunity is open to currently enrolled Queer BIPOC students and early professionals within the first five years of their careers. The program is geared towards QBIPOC folks holding or obtaining a Masters Degree in Library & Information Science, Moving Image Archiving & Preservation, Museums Digital Culture, Information Experience Design, or Data Analytics & Visualization, or any equivalencies. Please see our eligibility section below for more information. 

This program is made in collaboration with the Metropolitan New York Library Council, Pratt Institute School of Information & New York University Libraries.

Please view our program guide here and apply here.
Register for the upcoming information session on Tuesday, February 6th, 2024 from 1pm to 2pm here.

 

Important Information

  • Call for Applications: Thursday, January 18th 2024
  • Application Deadline: Friday, March 1st, 2024 by 5pm EST
  • Program Start Date: Friday, May 3rd 2024 (First session)
  • Program End Date: Friday, May 31st 2024 (Last and final session)
  • Participant Honorarium: $500
  • Number of Selected Students/Early Professionals: Up to 8 participants

Program related questions may be directed to Traci Mark (tmark@metro.org) and Shawn(ta) Smith Cruz (shawnta.smith-cruz@nyu.edu) with info@metro.org copied. Please submit your queries on or by Friday, February 23rd, 2024.

Please view the “Apply” page for instructions on how to apply and submit your application.

 

Program Objective

This project aims to facilitate a networking community amongst Queer (Q) students and early professionals who also identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color (BIPOC) in the library, museum, information, and archives field. Our intention is to yield a cohort across various schools and programs across the New York metropolitan area that will aid in sustaining a QBIPOC network of students and new professionals, creating an opportunity for skill-sharing, info-gathering, networking, and peer-mentorship. This program will include in-person tours, workshops, and mediated conversations led by, with and among QBIPOC library, museum, and archives professionals across the NYC metropolitan area.

Please view the “Program Description” page for a detailed description of all tours and workshops.

 

Application Process

A cohort of (up to) eight participants will be selected through an application process. Find our application form here. 

Within the form, each applicant will be asked to fill out basic information, attach a CV or resume and to describe in 300-500 words why they would like to participate in the QBIPOC Peer - Networking Program. 

If applicants encounter any issues or have questions, please contact Traci Mark (tmark@metro.org) and Shawn(ta) Smith Cruz (shawnta.smith-cruz@nyu.edu).

 

What Program Participants Can Expect

In-person Networking: Program participants can expect to meet in-person on Fridays in May 2024, 11am - 2pm, at various sites across NYC. Site-specific tours and conversations will yield the opportunity to receive a deeper understanding of library, archival, or information work from the vantage points of QBIPOC workers located at each site.

Tours & Workshop Spaces for Fridays in May will include: NYU Bobst Library, Whitney Museum Archive, Pratt School of Information, Milstein Center for Teaching and Learning at Barnard College, and The Lesbian Herstory Archives. Practitioners will share overviews of their work, their workspaces, and how they may bring their identities to their work. Participants may engage in conversation and provide feedback on archival processes, workflow arrangements, and general space-related library and archival work. 

Publishing Opportunity:  Participants of the Fridays in May QBIPOC Peer-Networking Program will submit a piece of writing or other media-based format, as part of a collection on queerness and BIPOC identities in libraries, archives, or museums, as it pertains to practice, theory, or the profession-at-large. Writing will be hosted on NYU Manifold. Submissions will be due on or before Friday, June 14th. Find more information about the Manifold Publishable Work opportunity here.

 

Honoraria

To support their studies, well being, and career within this field, each participant will receive a $500 honorarium for their participation in the program. Each participant will receive a check by mail within 2 to 6 weeks after the final session on May 31st, 2024. 

 

Eligibility

You are welcome to apply for this program if you: 

  • Are enrolled in an MA/MS program related to libraries, archives and/or preservation. This can include programs such as:
    • Library & Information Science/Studies
    • Archives Management
    • Moving Image Archiving & Preservation
    • Museums Digital Culture
    • Information Experience Design
    • Data Analytics & Visualization
  • Have graduated from such a program within the past five years 
  • Have five or fewer years of experience as a credentialed librarian or archivist
  • Identify as queer 
  • Identify as a Black person, Indigenous person, or other person of color 

If you are unsure of whether you are eligible, please email Traci Mark (tmark@metro.org) and Shawn(ta) Smith-Cruz (shawnta.smith-cruz@nyu.edu).

This program is open to all individuals who identify with the list above. Preference will be given to applicants who live or work in New York City or Westchester County.

 

Timeline

  • Thursday, January 18th 2024: Call for applications
  • Tuesday, February 6th 2024 from 1pm to 2pm: Online Information Session
  • Friday, February 23rd, 2024: Deadline to submit any program related questions to Traci Mark (tmark@metro.org) and Shawn(ta) Smith Cruz (shawnta.smith-cruz@nyu.edu) with info@metro.org copied.
  • Friday, March 1st, 2024 by 5pm: Application deadline
  • Week of Monday, March 25th, 2024: All program applicants will be notified of their application status
  • Week of April 8th, 2024: Online meet & greet with participants (date TBD)
  • Friday, May 3rd, 2024: Program Starts: In-person workshop taught and facilitated by Shawn(ta) Smith Cruz (Part 1) at Pratt Institute School of Information
  • Friday, May 10th, 2024: Whitney Museum Archives tour, followed by lunch
  • Friday, May 17th, 2024 : Tour of Milstein Center for Teaching and Learning at Barnard College, followed by lunch
  • Friday, May 24th, 2024 :  In-person workshop taught and facilitated by Shawn(ta) Smith-Cruz (Part 2) at NYU Bobst Library 
  • Friday, May 31st, 2024: Tour of Lesbian Herstory Archives, followed by lunch, program ends
  • Friday, June 14th, 2024: Submission to the Manifold publication 

Find more information about the Manifold Publishable Writing opportunity here.

 

Program Managers

Traci Mark, Program Manager, Equity, Archives & Media Preservation at METRO (tmark@metro.org) 

Shawn(ta) Smith-Cruz,  Associate Dean of Teaching, Learning & Engagement at New York University’s Division of Libraries (shawnta.smith-cruz@nyu.edu) 

Nate Hill,  Executive Director at METRO (nhill@metro.org)