Date: Monday, October 28, 2024
Facilitator: Crystal Middleton, Elting Memorial Library
Description: This month, we will follow up on “From DEI to IDEA: where have we been and where are we going (in libraries).” We will continue the conversation from the most recent meeting and hear from you about what kind of leadership training you want and need.
Crystal provided background on DEI in libraries, why it’s important, and what we can do to meet the needs of our communities. We started talking about accessibility services.
Try to get ahead of the survey and reevaluate what you have and need. The tools keep changing and getting better, and the policies and laws keep changing.
It would be best if you created websites. On your website, share all the tools and services you have.
Shelving – need to ensure that the shelving is at a lower height.
In person services – like typing to text for someone who needs these services
Communication is important among the staff and shared with the patrons.
Also, make sure you have a way to communicate with all patrons. Card with languages for a patron to point to so that they feel welcome to the library
Hiring and staff retention – Job descriptions, where they get posted. Expand where they get posted to reach a more diverse pool of applicants. Retention ensures that everyone’s needs are met and that they are involved on an equal basis. Be aware of our own implicit bias.
We need to find ways to be more inclusive regarding language barriers.
“Translate live” Tablets that translate languages. Two tablets that communicate with each other.
The better we do with being inclusive, the more people will be comfortable being in the library.
There is a need to create a cultural connectivity between the community and the library.
Sometimes, you don’t know what you need until someone walks in the door with those needs!
Communication with the community, both one-on-one and in literature, is important.
We must ensure that the staff are inclusive, understand the laws, and set proper boundaries. We also need to prevent workplace discrimination against staff and the community.
Be aware of your community and who is visiting and using the library, e.g., a group of neurodivergent students who visit the library as a group. They have what they need. Embrace their presence.
Collections: Conduct a diversity audit of your library collection to identify gaps. Use Kawanna Bright’s tools! The best approach is to start somewhere. Make small changes and put in the effort. Minor changes: genre stickers. Larger spine labels.
Tech help / digital navigator: Help the aging patrons learn how to use Libby to check out ebooks.
It is important to keep the relationships going and build with your patrons and collections. For example, do the patrons who read large-print books know they can also use ebooks?
How to take advantage of groups, like knitting groups. Bring tech to them. Form relationships. Have them do something for the library. Keep them involved! And make them integral to the library.
Profession at large—We may seek out things like research projects. Get involved. Think about ways to share and teach others. What we all do can benefit the profession at large.
How does sustainability tie into this conversation? The sustainable libraries initiative: https://www.sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org/. Three legs of the stool: environmentally sound, socially equitable, economically feasible.
Partnerships with organizations that do good work! Other non-profit whose mission it is to do good work on tier
Action toward independence.
Self-advocacy in New York – sign up for their newsletter.
Try not to feel overwhelmed by what needs to be changed. Take charge of things one step at a time.
Set the next meeting date.
Tessa: find out what the accessibility group doesn’t like about recite me. I think they prefer plain language websites and use their screen reader. But find out.
Invite Alexa to join the academic library director group. If she wants to, have Moshe add her to the list.
January 6 or January 13 @9:30 in person at Southeastern. In person Zoom backup.
Policy workshop? For IDEA? Language and gendering in policies. How do staff make suggestions for change? Make recommendations? Advocacy for policy change.