Annual Report: 2001

Library Diversity Committee

Submitted by Rose Thomas, LDC Chair
October 2001
Background
In November 2000, the recommendation to change the name from the Library Diversity Advisory Group to the Library Diversity Committee was accepted. The name change denotes the ongoing commitment of the committee as a continuation of the Library Diversity Task Force, originally established in 1996, and the Library Diversity Advisory Group, formalized in 1998. Whatever its name, the Library Diversity Committee continues to strive to meet the charges of:

to increase the numbers of employees of color at all levels, including professional, paraprofessional, and student assistants

to enhance our understanding of gender, ethnicity, culture and social issues as a means of improving our services.

Membership
The LDC membership underwent some changes after losing its chair, Diane Sotak. Rose Thomas took on the duties of chairperson as of June 2001. New members of the Committee are: Audra Loyal, Mark Mimnaugh, Heather Ward and Kaiping Zhang. Continuing LDC members are David Landazuri, and Laine Stambaugh (ex officio). Outgoing members at the end of 2001 are: Michiyo Goble and Joni Herbst. In May 2001 LDC divided into sub-groups to handle multiple tasks: 1) web site and 2) events. A call for recruiting new members for 2002-03 will go out in various Library communications in November 2001.

2001 Accomplishments:
Maintaining a Strong Presence
This has been a year of great accomplishments for the Library Diversity Committee. In January 2001, the Committee received the Martin Luther King Award for Classified Employees and Officers of Administration for it's ongoing efforts in diversity issues.
The first print edition of the Multicultural Resource Guide to the University of Oregon and the Eugene-Springfield Community was published in March 2001 as a result of combined efforts of the Library Diversity Committee and the Office of Multicultural Affairs, headed by Carla Gary. A reception was also held March 8, 2001 in the Browsing Room in honor of the publication of the Guide. Representatives from the UO campus community, the 4-J and Bethel school districts, the Eugene Police Department, and various organizations throughout Eugene-Springfield and Lane County attended the reception and also purchased Guides for their organizations. An article about the Guide appeared in the April 4, 2001 issue of The Register-Guard. Print copies of the Guide continue to be sold through the Office of Multicultural Affairs and free copies are displayed in the Office of the Librarian. A framed print of the Guide's cover now hangs in the Office of the Librarian.

Campus Connections and Contributions
Throughout the year LDC has continued to improve on the online version of the Multicultural Resource Guide. Occasionally, we receive an email from the Eugene-Springfield community with a suggestion or correction of information that will enhance the web site. Laine Stambaugh receives more information from various resources and listservs that enhance the "Events" portion of the web site and has re-organized the "Suggested Books and Films" portion as well.

Diane began attending monthly UO Diversity Team meetings. These meetings, headed by Mark Tracy, Assistant Dean from the Office of Student Life, are attended by members of various campus offices and student unions. The meetings provide valuable information on upcoming cultural events and ongoing campus efforts. Since there is currently no central resource nor an up-to-date UO events calendar for obtaining information, these meetings provide important connections for the Library Diversity Committee and are a good network for meeting people and getting our information out to there. Following summer term downtime, Rose has started attending these meetings in October and is reporting back with information to LDC members. At Diane's suggestion, each LDC member will trade off the responsibility of attending the Diversity Team meetings and report back during the monthly LDC meetings.

During summer term, Mark Tracy, Office of Student Life, contacted LDC wanting information about the creation process of the Library's diversity web site. Since August, Rose has represented the Library at regular meetings as part of a newly created UO Diversity Web Committee. Rose provides information about how our diversity web page was created, advises on some of the obstacles we have faced with maintaining the web page, and suggests revisions of the UO diversity web site that will facilitate its evolution into a important and up-to-date resource for all the people who will use it. As part of the UODWC responsibility, each acting Library Diversity Committee chair will be asked to provide ongoing guidance and information.

In October 2001, the Committee chair and Library staff web created an "After September 11 Teach-In" web page that provides electronic access to the readings packet from the teach-in via a link on the Library diversity web site. The UO teach-in was held October 2, 2001 in the EMU, and was organized by the Concerned Faculty for Peace and Justice. Several members from CFPJ have expressed gratitude that these web pages were created and hosted by LDC.

All of these responsibilities clearly portray our connections with various campus groups and an increased awareness of what is going around us.

Enhancing Our Understanding:

In February 2001 several LDC members attended a 2-day diversity workshop held at Oregon State University in Corvallis. Team members reported back with valuable information from the workshops to Library staff in the March 2001 Diversity Doings article in the LSA Newsletter.

A video showing of "My Family/Mi Familia" was held on May 1st and 3rd, 2001 in honor of Cinco de Mayo

Diversity Doings articles continue to appear regularly in the LSA Newsletter and advise Library staff of upcoming diversity events and cultural information

LDC created a document that is a calendar of UO diversity events to keep track of them and use upcoming annual events in the planning of LDC events

Recommendations

Provide a supply of generic "UO Library Diversity Committee" business cards for current LDC members. Since we are all attending more campus meetings and workshops, these cards will provide important contact information and enhance the Committee's efforts to make connections.

Post important Library Diversity Committee documents on the Library's intranet (IRIS). Suggestions for information that should go on that site are: annual reports, minutes of meetings, and any documents that should not be hosted on the regular diversity page.

Since the Outreach Librarian position has been eliminated, LDC should make recommendation that Library look at ways to have a more active outreach to groups whose main point of contact had been with Jon Cawthorne. Library does well with responding to requests, but is not going out to the groups and assessing their needs (some groups do better with more personal interaction and customization).

Other recommendations can be made on developing a residency program for entry-level librarians of color. Developing an internship program in conjunction with U. Washington. Joni said the Law Library has had library school interns from UW.

Maintained by: Erin O'Meara, erino@uoregon.edu
Last Modified: 03/28/2007