Library Committee Handbook

Diversity Committee 

E-mail:
diversity@library.uiuc.edu

 

Library Diversity Committee Meeting Minutes

May 9th, 2006

Present: Cindy Ingold, Shuyong Jiang, Silda Andrick, Mary Beth Allen, Lori Caroll

Absent: Lisa Romero

Minute taker: Shuyong Jiang

  1. Discussion with Amanda McKay

    The meeting had a guest, Amanda McKay, Diversity Consultant from Lincoln Trails Library System to speak on what LTLS is doing regarding diversity and libraries. Amanda briefly introduced the grant programs and non-grant programs LTLS has been doing.

    There are several programs funded by the LTLS grant as continuing education opportunities.  The Diversity Forum is a one day event designed for librarians to gain a better understanding of diversity and to bring awareness for what can be done to serve diverse communities. The Cultural Competency Workshops are practical training programs for participants to learn how to interact better with the diverse populations. Poverty Simulator addresses the diversity issues other than cultural but social problems as well, such as poverty. Basic Spanish for Librarians is not a grant funded program. It provides training for front line librarians and staff to gain language skills to help them work better with the Spanish populations in their communities.

    Amanda emphasized that the LTLS diversity program focuses on populations that are most needy for services and also partnership building.  She mentioned librarians form UIUC who have been participating in LTLS programs, for example Nelly Gonzalez who spoke at one of the programs. She invited Diversity Committee members to participate in their programs.

    DC members had questions about if LTLS has worked with school librarians.  We also expressed our willingness to cooperate with LTLS for diversity programs

  2. Follow up on Video Showings

    The overall feedback from the participants at the two showings of the video "People First: Serving & Employing People with Disabilities" was very positive, especially they like the speaker, Bryan McMurray.

  3. Update on Search for Outreach Librarian for Multicultural Services

    Cindy reminded that there would be two more interviews for the Outreach Librarian for Multicultural Services.

  4. Who Wants to Continue on Committee

    We also discussed who wants to continue as members for next year. There are four members who have served 2 years. Mary Beth, Silda, and Shuyong all felt it was a great opportunity to be on the committee, but felt they should step down so some other people may have chance to serve. Lori would like to continue on the committee. Cindy will ask Lisa if she wants to continue.

  5. Next Meeting

    There is one more meeting scheduled for this semester on June 13, 2:00-3:00. In that meeting, the committee will discuss plans for next year, and  prioritize some of thing that are already considering, such as doing a survey, brining in speakers, and providing a lunch time brown bag discussion series.

  6. Finally, Cindy briefly mentioned the campus conference she attended on April 21.  She had a notebook from the conference for people to look at.