Welcome!
We’re so excited to announce the second cycle of the 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. As the post-COVID culture 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-community setting, creating an opportunity for skill-sharing, info-gathering, and networking. This program will include in-person tours, workshops, and mediated conversations led by, with and among QBIPOC library, archives, and information professionals across the 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 2nd, 2025 to May 30th 2025. This opportunity is open to library workers and currently enrolled MLIS/MA students who identify as Queer BIPOC who have an interest in learning more about the museum, library, archives, and information profession. 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 and Lesbian Herstory Archives.
Please view our program guide here and apply here.
Register for the upcoming information session on Wednesday, February 5th, 2025 from 1pm to 2pm here.
Important Information
- Call for Applications: Thursday, January 16th, 2025
- Application Deadline: Friday, February 28th, 2025 by 5pm EST
- Program Start Date: Friday, May 2nd, 2025 (First session)
- Program End Date: Friday, May 30th, 2025 (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 Wednesday, February 26th, 2025 by 11:59pm EST.
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 library workers who also identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color (BIPOC) in the museum, library, 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 library workers, creating an opportunity for skill-sharing, info-gathering, and peer-networking. This program will include in-person tours, workshops, and mediated conversations led by, with and among QBIPOC museum, library, archives, and information 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 2025, 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: Brooklyn Public 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 information, 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 27th, 2025.
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 30th, 2025.
Eligibility
This opportunity is open to library workers and currently enrolled MLIS/MA students who identify as Queer BIPOC. You are welcome to apply for this program if you:
- Are a library worker with or without the MLIS. This can include any positions within libraries, archives or museums, including, but not limited to:
- Access & circulation staff
- Library administrators
- Technicians
- Librarians
- Archivists
- Media Specialists
- OR Graduated from or 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
- AND Identify as queer
- AND 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 the five boroughs of New York City or Westchester County.
Timeline
- Thursday, January 16th 2025: Call for applications
- Wednesday, February 5th 2025 from 1pm to 2pm: Online Information Session
- Register here.
- Wednesday, February 26th, 2025: 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, February 28th, 2025 by 5pm EST: Applications due
- Week of Monday, March 31st 2025: All program applicants will be notified of their application status
- Week of April 14th, 2025: Online meet & greet with participants (date TBD)
- Friday, May 2nd 2025: Program Starts: In-person workshop taught and facilitated by Shawn(ta) Smith-Cruz - Pratt Institute School of Information
- Friday, May 9th, 2025 : Second Gathering - Tour/Talk at Milstein Center for Teaching and Learning at Barnard College, followed by lunch
- Friday, May 16th 2025 : Third Gathering - Tour/Talk of Brooklyn Public Library’s Kings Bay Branch, followed by lunch
- Friday, May 23rd 2025: Fourth Gathering - Whitney Museum Archives tour, followed by lunch
- Friday, May 30th 2025: Fifth Gathering - In-person workshop of Manifold Projects + Tour of Lesbian Herstory Archives by Shawn
- Followed by a pizza party and social gathering
- Friday, June 27th, 2025: 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)