ACRL Diversity Committee (Association of College and Research Libraries)

Hello,

Please review the committee minutes from the past 2014 ALA Annual Conference and edit as needed.  The deadline for submitting this document is July 25, I will review the document on July 23.  I am ensuring you have time to review and edit the document.  You should be able to edit on the screen without downloading similar to  a Google Doc.

ACRL Diversity Committee Minutes

2014 ALA Annual Conference - Las Vegas

Committee Meeting - June 29th, 2014

1-2:30PM - Las Vegas Convention Center, N214

Attendance

Mary Ann Sheblé (ACRL Board Liaison)

Althea Eannace Lazzaro (Member)

Megan Watson (Member)

Darlene Nichols (University of Michigan - Librarian for Diversity and Inclusion, Staff Development Librarian)

Tarida Anantachai (Member)

Kenny Garcia (Member)

Martha Parker (Vice-Chair)

Scott B. Mandernack (Member)

Leo Agnew (University of Iowa - Director, Human Resources & Diversity Programs)

Rudolph Clay (Washington University - Head of Outreach Services)

Kelly McElroy (University of Iowa - Undergraduate Services Librarian)

Jeff Banks (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville - Assistant Director for Library Human Resources and Diversity Programs)

Designation of Recorder

Kenny Garcia

Agenda Items

1. Welcome


2. ACRL Council Report

• The incoming ALA president is establishing a diversity taskforce, which will be headed by Trevor Dawes. The taskforce supports ACRL Diversity Standard # 7.


• The Diversity Toolkit will be discussed at ALA Luncheon on Tuesday, July 1st.


• The annual Report will be due on August 1st. This committee is not responsible for Spectrum Scholar Committee Report.


• The ACRL Scholarship Committee plans to raise $50,000 for 75 scholarships, which is an adjustment from $75,000 in 150 scholarships.


• The deadline to submit comments on the ACRL Draft Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education is July 15th. A final document will be submitted to the ACRL Board by August 15th.

○       Mary was notified that the committee will be submitting a statement regarding the lack of diversity and culture mentioned in the draft document.

• Mary will by cycling off and the board’s new contact info will be sent in July.

1. Introductions


2. Review of Diversity LibGuide

• The Diversity LibGuide/Toolkit is based on the 2012 ACRL Diversity Standards. Presentations were made throughout ALA events. Joint and individual presentations were also made at ACRL and JCLC conferences. A video was created by Martha Parker and Jeff Banks, which summarizes the standards.


• A toolkit was created by Latrice, Tarita, Althea, and Martha to share what can be done to address these standards.

○       Link:  http://uark.libguides.com/content.php?pid=514622

• A list of best practices/examples of how to implement the toolkit is needed.


• Question: Since the toolkit is not a static document, how would ACRL Publications handle this document?

○       Answer: Once the process of publishing through ACRL Publications is fully researched, it will be taken into consideration. The video is already included on the committee website and the toolkit will be included as a resource as well.

1. ACRL IL Framework - Diversity Statement

• A statement critical of the draft was made by the University of Washington. Shared with those present at the meeting, the statement asking for the inclusion of culturally responsive language in the draft. The statement needs to be made by July 15th. Committee members asked for time to read over framework document to see where the inclusive language would fit best.

○       Statement: To best support our increasingly diverse student populations, the Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education would benefit from an acknowledgement of the role that culture plays in learning and knowledge construction. There is a significant body of literature on multicultural and culturally responsive theory and praxis in the field of education that should inform how we teach information literacy. Including this language in the Framework will support those of us teaching information literacy through culturally responsive methods. To move forward with Framework without acknowledging the way that culture shapes how we teach and learn will further marginalize vulnerable student populations and artificially limit our understanding of information. This language would fit naturally and easily into several threshold concepts including “Scholarship is a Conversation” and “Authority is Constructed and Contextual”. We would be happy to provide a bibliography and consultation. 

○       ACRL Draft Framework for Information Literacy:  http://acrl.ala.org/ilstandards/

• Megan & Althea will revise the statement by July 14th and will also attend the online forums.

1. Reviewing/Revising 2012 ACRL Diversity Standards

• The 2012 ACRL Diversity Standards were created when the charge of the committee was to address racial and ethnic diversity. 

○       Should the standards be more inclusive to include ADA, sexual orientation, etc.?

■       The process of including more inclusive language will involve a lot of iterations. Should it be the charge of the incoming committee?

• Should the standards be used as a foundation and create other sets of standards?

■       A blog can be set up to collect feedback before starting the revision process. The ethnic caucuses and diversity-based roundtables need to be contacted. Should there be a communications pointperson?

1. ACRL 75th Anniversary Fundraising Campaign

• In celebration of the 75th anniversary of ACRL, the ACRL Conference Scholarship Committee is raising $50,000 for 75 scholarships to be given to students and junior librarians. The total number of scholarships is being discussed by the committee. The committee is reaching out to vendors, the ACRL Board, and individual contributors.

1. Action Items

• We are in the planning stage on revising the diversity standards.

○       A blog will be created to solicit feedback.

○       Planning meetings will be held through Skype.

○       The estimated time frame will be one year.

■       Everyone should take another look at the Social Work Diversity Standards that the ACRL Diversity Standards are based on.

• The ALA Connect portal will be used to share information, including meeting minutes.

1. Final Thoughts

• The ALA Committee on Diversity has a Diversity Council that will meet every other month. Should this committee send multiple representatives to these meetings (one different rep per meeting)?

○       The representative that attends the meeting will be responsible for writing up the meeting notes and posting the notes on ALA Connect.

Respectfully submitted,

Kenny Garcia