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.
The Ocean County (NJ) Library, always a leader in library diversity initiatives, offers the Diversity Cookbook, a toolkit of diversity programs. This is a great service for libraries to gather program ideas along with some basic instructions for making a variety of diversity programs happen and succeed.
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.
Another good resource on conflict resolution is the The Global Issues Resource Center at Cuyahoga Community College, which fosters citizen responsibility through cultivation of a global perspective on critical issues affecting our planet and its people. Services include conferences, training opportunities, collaborations, a multimedia library and curricular materials.
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.
Library Instruction for Diverse Populations Bibliography. This extensive bibliography will help librarians and instructors who teach diverse populations within academic settings. It cites resources related to the following groups: African American students, Asian American students, First-generation college students, GLBT students, Hispanic and Latino students, international students, Native American students, nontraditional students, students with disabilities, and transfer students.
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.
View recommendations for effective library service to Spanish-speaking patrons from the California State Library.
See tips from the Utah State Library on Effective Outreach to the Hispanic Community.
Read about successful approaches for library outreach to Hispanic children.
ALA Guidelines for Library Services to Hispanics.
The State Library of Ohio has compiled a "toolkit" for librarians interested in Library Services for Latino Community Members