2019 ALAO Conference -- Pre-conference

Integrating Intergroup Dialogue Principles & Skills into Academic Libraries

Thursday, October, 17, 2019

Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center

12 pm - 1 pm: Lunch and registration

1 pm - 4:30 pm: Workshop

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

One of the biggest challenges we are facing as a society is engaging one another across our differences in meaningful ways that can lead to positive social change. Especially in this era of divisive rhetoric, superficial one-way monologues (Facebook comment threads, Twitter posts and replies, anonymous comments), and a 24-hour news cycle that provides a barrage of information—often biased—with little depth or context, how do we come together to engage in authentic and meaningful conversation? How do our multiple social identities impact the ways in which we communicate with one another around challenging topics? How can we develop the skills to move away from monologue or debate to authentic dialogue?

Through this half-day workshop, participants will develop a better understanding of their own social identities as well as the complex identities, backgrounds and experiences that library users bring with them when they enter our spaces. Participants will be introduced to Intergroup Dialogue (IGD), a framework adapted at the University of Dayton that encourages people to engage in dialogue across their differences, and hopefully gain a better understanding of diverse life experiences. Through personal reflection and small group activities, we will explore the ways in which our identities intersect and interact with one another, and how we can tackle tough conversation topics through the use of dialogic skills and concepts.