We will provide an overview of the University of Michigan Library Diversity Council including history, committee organization, purpose and activities. We will share the story of our success and challenges, our experience with organizing the committee (and the by-laws which govern the organization) for maximum effectiveness. We will discuss the evolution of our mission and purpose over time and where we stand today. We will offer concrete suggestions and the benefit of our experience in how you can plan and implement diversity within your organization.
We will discuss why an academic library might benefit from a diversity committee and some ways to build a case for library administration. We will discuss the advantage of diversity and seeking to understand other voices, which broadens our perspective, as collection managers, public service providers, technology experts, administrators, etc. We will also discuss how diversity develops leadership through advocacy.
There is an amazing array of possible programs that can be done inexpensively or even free. We will go into greater depth about the programming done by U-M LDC. This includes our approach to programming, as well as the factors that inform what we do, how we develop it, and how changing council membership influences it. We will discuss both one-time programs (speakers, discussion panels, film screenings, and events), as well as recurring programs (book clubs, current event discussions, our annual Diversity Celebration, and a long-running workshop that promotes respect and inclusion within the organization). U-M LDC will address strategies to maximize impact of diversity programming and methods to improve staff engagement. This session will demonstrate how diversity programming can support and influence the changing culture of your institution.
How do you communicate what the committee is doing? We will describe our communication plan and strategies for getting the word out. These include developing a brand, building upon existing library communication channels as well as developing our own external network which successfully utilizes social media, live tweeting of events, etc.
Learn about ways to establish an internship program for undergraduates from underrepresented populations. Established in 2009, the Libraries have hosted 1-2 interns each year since. The presenter will describe the background of how her organization began exploring internship options, the LAMP program, some of the interns they hosted, and lessons learned.
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