Knowledge River Homepage on its own Website.
Knowledge River, at the School of Information Resources and Library Science at the University of Arizona, is a center for the study of library and information issues, services and technologies related to Hispanics and Native Americans. Knowledge River educates culturally and linguistically sensitive library and information professionals to serve and represent these communities within the field.
Hispanics and Native Americans are statistically among the poorest and least educated people in the United States. They need services and support of all kinds to improve their standard of living. Knowing how to find and use information resources and technologies can significantly increase their opportunities for general well being, education, employment and participation in community life.
Knowledge River, at the University of Arizona, is a center for the study of information resources and technology issues related to Native Americans and Hispanics. Envisioned as a national effort, it is located in an area with deep historical roots in both of these communities. We seek partners from the private and public sectors to help create a more equal footing for Hispanics and American Indians in the Information Age.
The Digital Divide, for Hispanics and Native Americans, is not limited to a gap in home computer ownership. Social inequities leave many persons from these populations without the personal or community information, communication and education resources they need to fully engage in the rich new information environment.
Knowledge River's mission is simple: nothing less than a major concerted effort, by an entity totally devoted to attacking the full spectrum of Digital Divide problems Hispanic Americans and Native Americans face, can meet this challenge head-on. Current efforts are too disparate and uncoordinated. Ways must be found to accelerate the rate of involvement with, and acceptance of, information and information technologies as potential solutions to many problems confronted by Hispanics and Native Americans. And these options must be presented with respect to cultural integrity, and appropriateness of design and function. Attention must be given to the differences within and among these groups as well as the similarities.
Knowledge River, spearheaded by the University of Arizona's School of Information Resources and Library Science in collaboration with the University of Arizona Libraries and several departments on campus, is devoted to gaining specific knowledge of our target groups, state of the art information technologies and innovative education methods. In addition, a variety of scholars and experts from across the nation in areas as varied as information policy, high tech industries, media outlets, information and computer science, information seeking behaviors, educational methods, Spanish and Native American languages and culture, museums, and community outreach will join with members of Hispanic and Native American communities to work on an agenda of outcomes that will aggregately empower them as information creators, seekers and users.
Knowledge River's Goals are:
Knowledge River in the News:
For more information, please Knowledge River at 520-621-3958
or janabrad@email.arizona.edu
or visit the Knowledge River website at http://knowledgeriver.arizona.edu/