UT Libraries Diversity Committee Meeting Minutes: Thursday, September 19th 2013, 1:00pm, Room 150

1.   Announcements
Diversity Dialogues: Human Libraries, Nov 5, 2013 at 7pm Multicultural Student Center

2.  Upcoming programs
VolAware Street Fair: Wednesday, October 2, 2013, 10:00-4:30pm
9:30 Set up – Tentative Theme: De-Stress Program
POCs: Michelle and Thura

Race for the Cure Salad Bar/ Raffle Fundraiser Thursday,
October 3, 2013 11:30-1:30pm, 6th Floor Staff Room
Committee Setup at 10:45 and Breakdown 1:30pm
POCs: Sojourna, Megan, and Thura

Social Justice Common Ground Read for Spring 2014
Thura and Allison recently met with new Vice Chancellor of Diversity
Half the Sky, by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, was suggested
– other suggestions are welcome

Black Issues Conference Proposal upcoming for Spring
The Committee will continue to check for a call for proposals
Possible proposal: “I hate it when, I would like it if…”

Possible program for Spring collaboration with Employee and Organizational
Development (HR)
POC Sojourna Cunningham

International Festival in April
We are seeking a request for theme suggestion

3. Diversity Committee webpage
Pictures are needed for the page
Cookie Bake off and International Fair pictures (Sojourna)

Web team:
Judy Li
Rabia Gibbs
Seth Jordan (New)
Michelle Brannen (New)
Suggestions for content and linked information are needed

4.  Diversity Committee Annual Report
Thura is currently working on the annual report. Once it is
approved by library administration, it will be shared with the
Diversity Committee and posted on the website.

5.  Diversity Program Evaluation
Explore options for program attendees feedback for the Diversity programs
POCs: Regina and Thura

Look at ways to increase program attendance and improve program marketing
POCs: All Committee members

6. Upcoming meeting dates
October 24, 2013, 1-2pm Room 150
November 21, 2013, 1-2pm Room 150

7. Suggested Agenda Items
Debrief on the Race for the Cure and the VolAware Street Fair outcomes
Discuss progress for upcoming programs

September 19th Attendees:
Megan Venable
Vicki Palmer
Elizabeth Young
Seth Jordan
Sojourna Cunningham
Steve Thomas
Michelle Brannen
Ingrid Ruffin
Thura Mack
Regina Mays

Library Diversity Committee Meeting Minutes, April 18, 2013, 1:00pm

Announcements

· Meeting with the new Vice Chancellor of Diversity, Dr. Ricky Hall, scheduled for July 18, 2013 at 1pm in Room 605

 

Upcoming Events

· Diversity Committee Cookie Contest Meet and Greet, scheduled for May 23, 2013 at 2- 3:30pm Library Staff Room on the 6th Floor

During the program, we will highlight our Library Diversity Committee programs with signs for each of the following:

Common Ground Book Club
Human Library
National Library Week
Featuring our first University Center Display on the topic of Global Citizenship
A Cookie Baking contest – winners of the Cookie Baking contest will receive a certificate. Megan will send out an email announcing the event to the entire library.
Unveil the Library Diversity Committee New Webpage on flat screen televisions

 

· International Festival discussion included finalizing the plans for our participation in the festival by highlighting regional cookbooks and recipes and giving out free cheese sticks

 

· Membership Drive – We will review and update the call for the new membership form, and will distribute the call in early May

Diversity Minutes February 28

• Next Diversity Committee meeting
  • Will be held March 21 1-2 p.m., Hodges Library Room 150

• Dr. Brothers
  • April 18 Dr. Laura Lundsford, University of Arizona
  • Workshop for faculty morning and students afternoon more information to come

• International Festival April 19 10-2 p.m.
  • Discuss possible themes via email

• Thura Mack’s new title, Coordinator for Community Services and Diversity Programs

• Confucius Institute (Ann Hulse)
  • Book donation ceremony April 12
  • Speaker series and movie series in the Fall Anne Hulse will provide more information

• April 1st -8th graduate education week
  • Digital signage, organizational support of week; display

• Thura volunteered to email Dr. Ricky Hall, Vice Chancellor of Diversity

• Diversity Committee Tool Box (Sojourna Cunningham scunni16@utk.edu)
  • Creating a survey instrument for the Southeastern region to create best practices as well as dialogue
• Assessment focus group in the Fall (Sojourna Cunningham scunni16@utk.edu)
  • Library partnering with Disability Services

• LibQual lite assessment of library services, this year Summer/Fall
  • Climate Qual Survey internal survey in the Spring of next year
  • 3 weeks faculty/staff 15 questions
  • IRB next Spring

• Common Ground Book Club Update (Ingrid Ruffin)
  • Discussion led by Dean of the University Libraries Steve Smith, with 20 attendees

• Webpage Update for http://www.lib.utk.edu/diversity/ (Judy Li and Rabia Gibbs)
  • Judy and Rabia highlighted new changes i.e. Word cloud, Culture Corner, Library residency program
  • New Deadline for the webpage: April during National Library Week April 14-20
  • Email Judy and Rabia with suggested changes

• Alliance of Women Philanthropists 2012 Giving Circle Grant Update (Sojourna)
  • Grant to bring Half the Sky book and film to campus along with a scholarship is submitted
  • The Grant was not approved. The committee will continue to look for other funding opportunities.

Diversity Committee January Meeting Notes: January 17th, 1:00pm, Room 150

1.  Announcements

• The next Diversity Committee meeting will be held February 21, 1-2:00pm, Hodges Library Room 150.
  The Diversity Committee will be meeting with Mark Puentes on February 5th, 11:00am-12:00pm, Hodges Library Room 605
  Possible question for Mark: “How we can prepare ourselves and engage with the new Vice Chancellor of Diversity?”
  All committee members are invited to this session!
• Citizenship display in the University Center organized by Sojourna and Anne
• March 20, 21, and 22 – RAD Class
• Megan Smith is organizing another library event open and available for all UT women. The class is 12 hours total and culminates with a training exercise in self-defense. Register online here. For more questions, contact Megan (msmith93@utk.edu or 865-974-6903) or UTPD (974-3114).

2.  Webpage Update (Judy and Rabia) (http://www.lib.utk.edu/diversity/)

• Judy and Rabia showed changes made so far
• What do we want on the home page?
  o Contact us
  o Highlight/inform about cultural issues/news
  o Recommended Culture Corner: Focus on Women’s issues i.e. Sex, gender, power
  o Pictures from previous activities? Picture collage for home page
  o Organize information by years
• Deadline for the webpage: end of February and beginning of March
• Email Judy and Rabia with suggested changes

3. Human Libraries Update (Ingrid)

• Presenting at Black Issues Conference, “UTK Human Library Experience: Reading into Black Culture” February 2, 2:15-3:00pm UTK University Center Rm 225
• Please come support us!

4. Alliance of Women Philanthropists 2012 Giving Circle Grant Update (Sojourna)

• Grant to bring Half the Sky the Book and film to campus along with a scholarship is submitted
• Friends of the Libraries will provide matching funds
• The announcement will be made Feb 22, 2013
• Possible Life of the Mind partnership

5. Diversity Committee Social Networking Media Update  (Ingrid)

• Ingrid is working to integrate the diversity committee’s efforts into the libraries’ social networking media

6. Common Ground Book Club Update  (Ingrid)

• A writer’s transsexual journey will be the topic of the next Common Ground Book Club discussion led by Dean of the university Libraries Steve Smith.
  • T Cooper’s Real Man Adventures will be the subject of discussion on Tuesday, February 19, at 4:30 p.m. in the Culture Corner, first floor of Hodges Library. Real Man Adventures is a collage of letters, essays, interviews, artwork, and conversations exploring what it means to be a man. T Cooper maintains a sense of humor as he takes us through his transition into identifying as male — even publishing the letter he wrote to his parents to inform them that he “wasn’t their daughter anymore.” It’s a brash, wildly inventive, and comic exploration of the paradoxes and pleasures of masculinity.

7. New items

• Elizabeth Young of the University Libraries graciously donated a basket of preserves for the Race Against Racism on behalf of the Diversity Committee. (Thank You)
• The Confucius Institute is coming to campus April 11-12. See Anne Hulse ahulse1@utk.edu for more information.
• Robin Bedenbaugh requests our support to bring Dr. Srivi Ramasubramanian from Texas A&M to speak at the libraries about the impact of media in fostering a diverse community of respect.
  • The committee agreed to work with Robin in bringing in the speaker.