Aspirations
for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion - a Discussion
Sponsored
by ALA’s Task Force on Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Dr. Jorge Reina
Schement, vice president for institutional diversity and inclusion at Rutgers
University and former dean of the School of Communications & Information,
and
Nancy Kranich,
lecturer and special projects librarian at Rutgers University and chair of the
ALA Center for Civic Life, facilitated the discussion.
(ALA is seeking your feedback on
these topics. Consider taking the survey
before Feb. 16: Survey link
You do not have to be a member to take
the survey.
Participants were divided into small
groups, presented with a few ALA stats, and given questions to facilitate
discussion amongst our small groups.
According to ALA Membership Stats: ALA stats
In 2005, approx. 81% of members checked
the little box for White, stating that this was the race they identified with.
In 2014, approx. 87% of members
checked this same box. This is equal to the number in 1970.
According to these
stats, there has not been a significant increase in the racial diversification of
ALA’s membership since 2005.
These were some of the questions/concerns discussed:
-Do we believe these stats accurately
reflect the library profession nationwide?
-Do they accurately reflect library
professionals in our respective state?
-Is this reflected in our workplace?
Also consider that these #’s only take into
consideration racial diversity. We know that diversity refers to much more than race.
And.. (I thought this was the most important question)
-Is the focus on increasing diversity
within the library profession misguiding us?
-Should our focus be on inclusion instead?
Inclusion was defined as unconditionally accepting someone as who they are, while allowing them to
determine who they are.
“If you show up, I will accept you
for who you are, and you will decide who you are."
As the group discussed these
questions, notes were taken that would be shared with the task force
members.
Further discussion and forums
centered on these topics will occur at ALA Annual.
If you are an ALA member, you
can follow the task force’s discussions via ALA Connect.
I'm sorry I missed this discussion and am curious to see the outcomes.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the survey link! I encourage everyone to fill it out.
I find the links between diversity and inclusion, particularly the way the TF defines/presents them as possibly problematic. In my mind, the two are always linked, as we cannot tell someone who they are and (in my mind) the whole point of focusing on diversity is to make a situation more inclusive by exposing people to things that are "different" and teaching them how to react thoughtfully and respectfully to these differences.
Council also commented in session on the problems with some of the definitions... Interesting discussions to come to be sure!
Also, I feel like I'm using the word Interesting A LOT in these blogs.
Yes! I filled out the survey. Thanks for sharing your conference notes.
ReplyDelete