This is a presentation for the California Library Association Conference in Long Beach, CA. on November 4, 2013. Presented by members of the SJSU/School of Library and Information Science - Diversity Committee.

1. Make Some Noise –
What kind of Noise are YOU making?
Engaging, Embracing and Practicing Diversity
Panel Members
Sophia Duran
Arglenda Friday
Sharon Tani
Patty Wong
Elizabeth Wrenn-Estes
California Library Association
November 4, 2013

2. Why is Advancing Diversity Important?

3. Organizing:
The SLIS Diversity Committee
•
•
•
•
Foster discussion and solicit input about diversity issues.
Plan one Colloquium a year on a diversity topic.
Recommend and plan additional diversity activities for SLIS.
Welcome and mentor SLIS Spectrum scholars.
• Build relationships outside of the School.

4. Diversity Checklist
AS An Assessment Tool
Arglenda Friday, JD, MLIS
Instructor
San Jose State University
School of Library and Information Science

5. Approaches to Diversity Assessment
• Understand that diversity can manifest itself in many ways.
• Gauge the degree of diversity in existing programs, activities,
collections and services, and revise them to enhance or
promote inclusion
• Create a checklist or chart to evaluate diversity in library
community or service area:
• Identify diversity variables for your community
• Assess the 'degrees' of inclusion by activity (programs, services
or collections).
• Customize checklist to use characteristics that better define the
demographics of the user population

6. Creating a
Diversity Checklist
• Conduct user study or review census data to determine
characteristics of population of users.
• Insert findings from user study or census data into the
Diversity Checklist.
• Consult with Community Gatekeepers and
Representatives from target populations.
• Create or revise program, service, or diversify collection
using findings from Diversity Checklist .
• Present a pilot project or program to see assess degree
of diversity and inclusion.
• Evaluate success of activity.
6

7. Degrees of Inclusion
• Review existing activities for degrees of inclusion
• Use a rating system or actual count in
determining the “degrees” of inclusion:
• Count the actual number of titles or activities, OR
calculate as a percentage of the total number of titles
in the collection or total number of programs
• Possible Rating System
•
•
•
•
Minimal
Fair
Moderate
High

8. Checklist - Variables
•
 Abilities/Disabilities
 Age
 Appearance
 Class/Social Status
 Communication
 Culture
 Educational Status
 Employment
 Ethnicity
 Family Composition
 Gender Identity
 Language/Dialects
 Marketing/Outreach
 Nationality/National
Origin
 Race
 Religion
 Sexual Orientation
 Special Populations

9. Example of Checklist Chart
Items/
Variables
Degree of Inclusion or Diversity - PROGRAMS
Actual
or %
Language
Accent/Dialect
Communication
Styles
Cultural Aspects
(formal/informal)
Literacy levels
Oral/Written
Vocabulary
Minimal
Fair
Moderate
High
Other/
Total

10. Applying to Activities – ESL YOUTH
• Programs – for ESL/ELL Young Adults
• Research demographics - 20% of your population
• Note characteristics - languages (Chinese, Spanish)
• Count number of programs per group and language - Zero
• Services
• Homework Assistance - age (only for ages 5-12 years)
• Assistance in other languages - English only
• Computer Instruction - English only; 10th grade reading level
• Collections
– Diversification by language – 2% of collection
– Diversification by literacy levels - No
10

11. Other Criteria to Consider
 Cost of implementation or changes
 Working with Collaborators or Partners or Community
Gatekeepers in all phases
 Include in planning
 Include in implementation
 Include in debriefing
 Using “pilot projects” or doing a trial run
 Importance of evaluation of the proposed changes
 Feedback from all participants
 Using evaluation for funding/grants
11

12. Questions?

13. Six Most Common Diversity Opportunities
Facing Public (and Other ) Libraries Today
Patty Wong, MLIS
County Librarian
Yolo County Library
Instructor, SJSU/SLIS

14. 1. Staff Development
• What do I do with the staff I have
now?Preparation– creating a culture that
embraces Inclusion
– Strength based model www.strengthfinder.org
– Staff engagement – Yolo County’s ONWARD!
Program
– Youth development www.ydnetwork.org
– Building capacity: cross mentoring, cross training,
special projects, Inclusion training

15. 2. Human Resources: Recruitment
• How do I build an organization that can recruit and reliably retain
diverse talent? (HR, management team, headhunters, library
leaders, fellow directors)
• Use of language: Looking for skills and experience working with
communities of color (multilingual or multicultural experience
preferred)
• Who do I partner with to reach a greater depth and breadth?
(ethnic affiliates, religious communities, businesses, community
groups, other library recruitments)
• Inclusive recruitment plan (conferences, e-lists and social media,
outreach, newspaper/radio, job hotlines)
• Internal training program for panel members
• Change the criteria and the exam questions

16. Human Resources: Retention and
Promotion
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Mentoring internally and externally
Training and opportunities
Feedback, high touch, coaching
Bilingual pay
Scholarship resources
Matching funds – tuition reimbursement
Conference support
Speaking opportunities and special projects
Committee work
Making it count - reputation

17. 3. Creating Sustainability: Operations
• Common understanding of Inclusion amongst staff,
volunteers, Friends, Library Advisory Board, governance
structure, community (training, performance appraisals, all
documents, website)
• Staff as County and Library Ambassadors (performance
appraisals, expectations)
• Collections and programs and services that are community
based and community driven (10% of the materials budget
allocated to international languages and ELL; systemwide
programming – Dia de los Ninos)
• Outreach and in-reach program

18. 4. Mission and Strategic Vision
• Refreshed to be inclusive and timeless – and
community centered
• Tactical Plan – Yolo County Board of
Supervisors priorities – Collaborate to
Maximize Success
• Changing the culture – examine Values
(Library work is community work)
• Communication Plan

19. 5. Resource and Funding Support
• How does my organization become a trusted and
respected Inclusive organization with limited
funding and few resources? (seek funds and
support elsewhere: grants for staff and allies
development, cross training, Infopeople, SJSU SLIS
and other higher ed.)
• Engaged internal leadership
• Like minded partners with opportunities
• Creation of ONWARD! Staff Development
Committee (high level donation)
• Internship creation

20. 6. Turning Challenge Into Opportunity
• Complaints become opportunities for
community engagement
– Youth Library cards ages 0-5
– Library card registration – gender neutral
– Staffing composition – additional recruitment
channels

21. Every Voice Makes a Difference!
Anyone who thinks they are too small to be
effective….has never been in bed with a
mosquito.

22. Questions?

23. Technology Tools
for
Specialized Client Groups
In Public and Other Libraries
Sophia Duran
MLIS Student
San Jose State University
School of Library and Information Science

24. Groups
•
•
•
•
Visually Impaired Patrons
Hearing Impaired Patrons
Learning Impaired Patrons
Mobility Impaired Patrons

25. Assistive Technology
“Assistive Technology is a device or a computer-based
accommodation that provides equitable access to programs
and print or online resources for persons with disabilities.”
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Text-to- speech software
Screen Readers
Talking dictionaries
Reading Machines
Talking Public Access Terminals
Touch Screen Computers
Alternative keyboards
Kurzweil Products
Second Life

26. Tips for Assisting
Specialized Client Groups
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Have 1-2 workstations with adjustable tables, chairs, and armrests.
Replace computer mouse with trackballs
Hire a staff person who knows sign language
Have pencil and paper available for patrons wanting to
communicate in writing
Subscribe to periodicals that cater to people with “disabilities” such
as Ability Magazine
Create a list of local resources for people with disabilities
Purchase closed-captioned DVD’s
Have a list of local libraries that offer the Assistive Technology your
organization doesn’t provide

27. References
• Ability Magazine. (2013). Retrieved from
http://www.abilitymagazine.com/
• American Foundation for the Blind. (2013). Retrieved from
http://www.afb.org/
• Americans with Disabilities Act. (2013). Information and technical
assistance. Retrieved from http://www.ada.gov/
• Assistive Technology Products. (2013). Microsoft Assistance.
Retrieved from http://www.microsoft.com/enable/at/types.aspx
• Kurzweil Educational Systems. (n.d.). Kurzweil Reader. Retrieved
fromhttp://www.kurzweiledu.com/default.html
• University of Washington. Equal access: Universal design of
libraries. Retrieved from
http://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Academics/equal_acc
ess_lib.html

49. Final Questions?

50. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bibliography is located at the following URL:
https://sites.google.com/a/sjsu.edu/presentation-site-forkristen-rebmann/home/library-2-013
Note: The bibliography won’t be available until November 3, 2013.
Bibliography compiled by Dr. Kristen Rebmann, Chair SLIS Diversity Committee

51. Thank you!
Feel free to contact us with any questions!
•
Sophia Duran
MLIS Student/San Jose State University/School of Library and Information Science
SLIS Diversity Committee Member
sophia.duran@sjsu.desire2learn.com
•
Arglenda Friday, JD, MLIS
Lecturer and SLIS Diversity Committee Liaison
arglenda.friday@gmail.com
•
Patty Wong, MLIS
County Library/Yolo County and Instructor SJSU/SLIS
patty.wong@yolocounty.org
•
Kristen Radsliff Rebmann, Ph.D., MLIS
Associate Professor and Chair, SLIS Diversity Committee
kristen.rebmann@sjsu.edu
•
Sharon Tani, MLIS
Regional Director of Library Services
Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts/Los Angeles
SLIS Diversity Committee Member
STani@la.chefs.edu
•
Beth Wrenn-Estes, MLIS
Lecturer and SLIS Diversity Committee Member
bwestes@me.com