Diversity Best Practices is the preeminent organization for diversity thought leaders to share best practices and develop innovative solutions for culture change. Through research, benchmarking, publications and events, DBP offers members information and strategies on how to implement, grow, measure and create "first in class" diversity programs.
Fond du Lac Public Library of Wisconsin offers resources in diversity, understanding racial prejudices and bias, and organizations and groups promoting diversity and equality.
Promising Practices in Colorado Library Diversity. As noted in the website: Colorado's libraries can be part of improving services to diverse populations. Share your best and promising practices through this database. It's easy to use AND easy to contribute to. The practice might be a program, a staff development hint, a bibliography you've created, or even a plan that you hope to put into action.
Association of Research Libraries diversity web page program offerings.
Don't miss our OLC 2006 Diversity Conference presentations and materials! The 2006 OLC Diversity 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. Handouts and other resources from the 2006 Diversity Conference, provided by session presenters, are available here.
The American Library Association's Office for Diversity has created a Library Diversity wiki to allow library diversity advocates to collaborate, communicate and connect with the most up-to-date information on diversity activities and issues that impact the profession, the workplace, and the quality of direct service delivery.
Serving Non-English Speakers in U.S. Public Libraries is a 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.
OLC Diversity Committee member Susan Ballard offers the Hip Pocket Guide to Better Service for LGBT Customers (Microsoft Word, 160K) for download, with links and tips for collection development, reference, programming, and outreach.
The Conflict Resolution Education Connection offers workshops, training and resources for educators and others in promotion of Conflict Resolution Education. The many instructional materials offered include resources on diversity awareness and related areas.
The Anti-Defamation League's A World Of Difference Institute offers training programs "designed to assist organizations in exploring ways to promote employee camaraderie and morale, enhance opportunities for recruitment and promotion, improve both client relations and customer loyalty, and increase overall productivity". Read more about these A Workplace Of Difference diversity programs.
The American Library Association's Library Services to Older Adults Guidelines address organizational functions and needs in serving the growing population of seniors with services, programs, and accommodations that meet the needs and demands of library communities. Also take a look at the Serving Seniors: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians site, a companion to the book, with links to many resources for librarians who work with older adults.
If you haven't discovered WebJunction, click right now to explore this wide-ranging community for library staff to share ideas, solve problems, take online courses and more. Do not miss the sections on services to Spanish Speakers, services to immigrants, services to older adults, and tribal and First Nation libraries.
The Ocean County (NJ) Library diversity mission and plan, Valuing Differences: A Diversity Plan for the Ocean County Library is a thorough, thoughtful, and far-reaching document that might inspire the diversity-related work of other libraries.
Hennepin County (MN) Library welcomes its diverse linguistic communities to the library with Association of College and Research Libraries' Instruction Section offers a WorldLinks. Interfaces in Hmong, Khmer, Lao, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese offer links to local information and WWW sites of interest. There are also lists of local resources for immigration, citizenship, and learning English. This is an excellent bridge to library and community information for new residents from abroad.
The National Library of Canada offers a Multicultural Resources and Services Toolkit, including guidelines for developing multicultural collections, technology and content resources, lists of vendors, and more. Please note that, while this site is highly useful and relevant, the emphasis is on Canadian resources and vendors.
Read about best practices, programs and initiatives that strengthen our nation's libraries.