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.
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 Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) is offering an Internet-based course, "Selecting Spanish-Language Materials for Adults." The course, which runs from April 7 - May 2, 2008, is designed to teach attendees how to develop a Spanish-language materials collection. Click here to register for the Spanish-language collection course and other ALA distance learning opportunities.
From May 8-10, 2008, The CUNY Center for Lesbian & Gay Studies (CLAGS) will host the 2nd international conference on GLBT Archives, Libraries, Museums, and Special Collections (ALMS) and the archivists, l ibrarians, researchers, artists, activists, and volunteers who work with them. This will be the 2nd ALMS conference since 2006 to explore the construction, use, organization, preservation, and reflection of queer archival material, collections, and research. See the conference web site for details.
This summer's ALA Conference in Anaheim will feature a preconference hosted by the Committee on Diversity and ALA's Office for Diversity. The preconference, Diversity Leadership Institute: Fundamentals of Diversity will take place Thursday, June 26, from 8:00 am - 5:30 pm. Experts in the field will coach you to break-through success with sessions on effective planning for diversity, benchmarking and assessment, achieving organizational buy-in, designing an effective recruitment plan, and creating partnerships for change. Tickets: Advance: ALA Member: $175; Non- Member: $200; Student/Retired Member: $150. Onsite: ALA Member: $200; Non-Member: $225; Student/Retired Member: $150. Please see the ALA Preconferences page for details.
The International Federation of Library Associations' Library Services to Multicultural Populations Section announces a Satellite Conference: Multicultural to Intercultural: Libraries Connecting Communities at the Renaissance Vancouver Hotel Harbourside in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from August 5-7, 2008. This conference will explore models of practice of libraries in different multicultural environments including the needs of First Nations/Indigenous peoples. In addition, there will be an examination of the changing demographics of our communities and institutions and the many challenges and opportunities that arise with cultural diversity. Further information, online registration form and hotel booking: www.bcla.bc.ca/ifla2008
Spectrum of the Future, the 2008 National Diversity in Libraries Conference, is being held in Louisville, KY on October 1-4, 2008, in conjunction with the Kentucky Library Association's and Southeastern Library Association's joint conference in Louisville, KY. Please check the conference web site for more information.
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 4/10/08