06/24/06
2006 Diversity Conference: A Conference of National Caliber
Pictured Kristin Shelley, Manager of the Hilltop Branch, Columbus Metropolitan Library and Diversity Conference Chair; Carol Verny, Director of Library and Member Services, OHIONET and Diversity Conference Sponsor; and Jaime Adoff, author and Diversity Conference presenter.
The 2006 Diversity Conference, held June 7-8, 2006, at the 
University Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Columbus, Ohio, was a great success and kicked off with an inspirational and stirring presentation by Dr. Kevin Boyle, Ohio State University Professor and winner of the 2005 National Book Award for Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights and Murder in the Jazz Age . He spoke eloquently about the American ideal of democracy and equality and the cultural, economic, and social issues impacting those ideals.
The first day of the conference offered breakout sessions by Margarita De Leon, Kevin Leonard, and other library professionals on topics such as diversity in teen literature, dealing with and serving marginalized people and people with different abilities, digital terrorism and hate groups, the power of song in cultural awareness, recognizing and checking personal prejudices when making decisions and providing service, understanding and working with people in poverty, and overcoming language barriers in delivery of library service.
Poet and novelist Jaime Adoff set the tone for the second day, with a delightful discussion about his youth in inclusive Yellow Springs and his path to becoming a writer. Filmmaker Diane Bloom screened "An Unlikely Friendship," a documentary about an unexpected life-long friendship between two diametrically opposed and angry people in the divided 1970s Durham , NC . Bloom's movie was the feature presentation at OCLC's annual Ohio Dinners for Spectrum at the end of the first day of the conference.
Other programs included diversity in organizations, Latino communities, global etiquette, Muslim characters and Islamic themes in children's literature, and more. Young adult specialist Rollie Welch offered a fast-paced, conversational overview of good books for at-risk teens. Valerie Bell and Christine Matteo of the Ocean County (NJ) Library had a session on Ocean County's diversity initiative, discussing the depth and breadth of their initiative, and the commitment by library staff and community to building and maintaining a truly inclusive and welcoming library.
At the wrap-up session, major speakers Kevin Boyle, Diane Bloom, Jaime Adoff, Margarita De Leon, and Rick Eaton, plus attendee Tracie Hall, Director of the ALA Office for Diversity, reflected on their impressions of the conference and of the work we do day-to-day to promote inclusion in our libraries. Representatives from other states confirmed by their presence that the OLC Diversity Conference is a national-caliber educational event. The conference evaluations only mirrored the energy and enthusiasm that was generated during the panel break-out sessions and interactions/discussions of participants at the close of each day.
The growing impact of diversity's totality on the library community created a massive appeal for the dissemination of information as reflected by the large number of out of state attendees.
Pictured Latisha Reynolds and Carol Kraemer, University of Louisville, Kentucky.
As Chair of OLC's Diversity Awareness and Resources Committee, I would suggest that we look inward. Working in a library setting gives all of us the unique opportunity of dealing with members of a diverse community. The methods, training, skill set, and tactics we use to engage that community are the tools we must continue to develop to allow us to effectively serve the needs and demands of that community. In the end whether it is in our libraries or in our individual lives, we must continue to foster the belief that although we are different in some ways we are still the same in the ones that matter the most.
A special thank you goes out to all of the speakers, attendees, and especially the University Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Columbus, Ohio for hosting this year's conference.
Article submitted by Shahin Shoar, OLC Diversity and Resources Committee
