OLC's Diversity Awareness and Resources Committee is responsible for recommending ways in which OLC can address diversity as it relates to the library profession in general and to the Ohio library community in particular. These aspects include age, disability, gender, religion, sexual orientation and ethnicity. Through training, speakers, workshops, and publications, the Committee serves as a resource on diversity to the Council and its membership.
The El Paso Chapter of REFORMA will be hosting the third REFORMA National Conference in El Paso, Texas from September 18-21. The theme of this year’s conference is Bridging the Gaps - Juntos @ the Border. The theme is very appropriate given the location of the conference. The population along the El Paso/Cuidad Juarez border nears two million. The majority of who are Hispanic, Spanish speaking individuals coming from diverse backgrounds. Providing pertinent library service to this population offers many challenges. Information about the programs, keynote speakers, registration and more is available on the RNC III web site accessible through the REFORMA web site at www.reforma.org.
The Indiana State Library recently announced receipt of a $1 million grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services for recruiting and educating 30 ethnically/racially diverse students for Indiana’s Librarians Leading in Diversity project. Potential candidates must apply to the Indiana University School of Library and Information Science (IU SLIS) by September 15, 2008. The Fellowship Application process is now open until 4:00 p.m. on Monday, October 3, 2008. The application and more information can be found on the Indiana's Librarians Leading in Diversity (LLID) webpage. .
The Kentucky Library Association announces the KLA/KSMA/SELA/ARL National Diversity in Libraries Conference (NDLC), Spectrum of the Future, October 1-4, 2008 in Louisville. This is a national, regional, and state conference with an outstanding program. See the conference site for preliminary program information. KLA is offering member rates to members of the Ohio Library Council, the SWON Libraries, the Indiana Library Federation, the Tennessee Library Association, and the West Virginia Library Association. In order to receive the discount, send a photocopy of proof of membership with your registration. For more information, contact: Patrick S. Davison, Kentucky Library Association, patrick.davison@kctcs.edu.
Serving Non-English Speakers in U.S. Public Libraries is a new (March 2008) report from the American Library Association. This study provides new information about library services and programs developed for non-English speakers, including effectiveness of services, barriers to library use, most frequently used services and most success library programs by language served. Learn more here or download the full report (PDF format).
The Rainbow List is a bibliography of current books for young readers from birth through age 18 dealing with the myriad of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered or questioning issues. The Rainbow List was created by the Rainbow Project, a collaboration of the American Library Association (ALA) Social Responsibilities and GLBTQ round tables.
In October 2006, the Office for Diversity of the American Library Association (ALA) released Diversity Counts, a comprehensive study of gender, race and age in the library profession. Here is a press release and background information about this important study.
The 2006 OLC Diversity Conference was a big success, with excellent speakers and networking over two days of workshops, conversations, and celebration on June 7-8, 2006. The conference featured library-based programs that expand cultural awareness, increase sensitivity to economic, physical, and social differences, encourage advocacy, cooperation, and partnerships, heighten self-awareness, and showcase best practices in services and programming. For details, please see Diversity Conference: A Conference of National Caliber on the OLC web site, and explore 2006 Diversity Conference handouts and materials.
The University of Pittsburgh School of Information Sciences and University Library System Minority Librarian Fellowship and Residency Program offers minority candidates an opportunity for pursuing the Master's in Library and Information Science degree while gaining valuable, "hands-on" experience in a large academic library system. The goal of this two-year program is to increase the number of underrepresented racial/ethnic minorities within academic librarianship by providing the graduate education and the practical experience critical for successful entrance into the profession. Call (412) 624-3988 or e-mail tkizina@mail.sis.pitt.edu for information and an application packet.
In Memory of James CookOn August 4, 2005, the Diversity Committee received word of the death of our colleague James Cook. James has served on the Diversity Committee and the Diversity Conference planning committee, among his many, many contributions to the Ohio Library Council and the library community. James was dedicated and passionate about teens, public libraries, diversity, and intellectual freedom. He will be profoundly missed. |
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A memorial scholarship/award fund in honor of James E. Cook has been established by Kent State University School of Library and Information Science. The graduate student recipient will be selected on the basis of continuing James' good, important work of connecting teens and libraries. The resulting criteria for the award will also require that the recipient has a love for YA literature and a passion for telling others about what he or she has read. This will be a very special scholarship/award just as James was a very special individual. Contributions to this fund may be made online. In step 3, fill in the white box that your contribution is in memory of James E. Cook.
The State Library of Ohio offers a thorough list of links to Services for Hispanic/Latino Community Members, covering collections, outreach, funding, programs, staff development, and more.
The February 2005 issue of the State Library of Ohio News took diversity as its theme. Feature stories discuss ESOL partnerships, outreach to migrants, the statewide Commission on African-American Males, and more.
In addition to supporting the goals and objectives of the Ohio Library Council's Long-Range Plan, the Committee's goals are to:
Updated 8/7/08