Listen to the story here.

The National Joint Conference of Librarians of Color is meeting in Kansas City, Mo. to discuss an important issue: How are the nation’s libraries preparing for an increasingly diverse population?

University of Missouri-Kansas City Diversity Liaison and librarian of color Gloria Tibbs spoke about the issue on a recent segment of KCUR’s “Up To Date.”

Tibbs told KCUR’s Steve Kraske that a mentor was particularly influential in her decision to become a librarian. Today, Tibbs mentors a student through UMKC’s Avanzando program.

The Avanzando program currently supports 48 recipients of the Hispanic Development Fund and the Agapito Mendoza scholarships.

KCUR 89.3 FM, part of the National Public Radio’s digital network, is licensed by UMKC.