The University Library of California State University, Northridge (CSUN) has received a five-year, $1.6 million U.S. Department of Education grant through the Title V Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program to improve student success through strengthening its library collections, archives, and information competence. This program provides grants to assist eligible Hispanic-serving institutions of higher education to expand their capacity to serve Hispanic and low-income students. CSUN qualified for the program based on a Hispanic student enrollment of 30.2% of its headcount enrollment of 31,448 (Fall 2001).
The goal of the Library's HSI grant project is to contribute to students' academic success by improving their information competence skills through strengthening library collections, archives, and instructional services. In achieving this goal, we will:
- Increase Latino students' library use and research skills by expanding the Library's collection of books, journals, electronic resources, media, and teacher curriculum materials related to Latino history, social sciences, and culture.
- Acquire, digitize and improve accessibility of primary archival materials related to Latino individuals and organizations of the San Fernando Valley area and other areas within Los Angeles. Archives offer a wealth of primary research materials. Student use of these collections contributes to the depth of cited resources and the quality of students' research projects.
- Measure the impact of instruction by librarians on student information competence skills -- one of the goals of the University's general education program. Information competence, which is the set of skills needed to find, evaluate, use, and produce information in today's many formats, is essential for student success.
Due in part to our commitment to teaching, scholarship, and active learning as well as our desire to seek partnerships and alliances with the community, the grant will enable us to achieve the academic and social goals that have long been a part of the University Library and the Urban Archives Center.
- Grant Abstract
- Grant Application
- Grant activities related to Collection Development, Information Literacy & Outreach
- Grant activities related to Archival Collections
Contact Information:
For general information about the grant:
- Katherine S. Dabbour
Project Director, Hispanic Serving Institutions
Tel: 818-677-4706
E-mail: kathy.dabbour@csun.edu - Ellen Jarosz
Head of Special Collections and Archives
Tel: (818) 677-2597
E-mail: ellen.jarosz@csun.edu
For information about library resources or services related to the grant:
- Chris Bulock
Chair, Collection and Access Managment Services
Chicana and Chicano Studies Subject Specialist
Tel: (818) 677-6302
E-mail: christopher.bulock@csun.edu