Diversity Committee

Diversity Committee September 2013 Meeting Minutes

Pui-Yi Judy Li — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 16:53:49 +0000

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

Diversity Committee April Meeting Minutes

Pui-Yi Judy Li — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:23:33 +0000

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

Upcoming Activities

Pui-Yi Judy Li — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:16:32 +0000

Upcoming for 2013-2014

November 12-16 along with the #ThanksUTveterans Campaign

“Through a Solider’s Eyes” is a video-slide show of photographs collected from veterans will be exhibited in Hodges Library. Professor Baldwin Lee, working with the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy and the UT Center for the Study of War and Society, has been collecting photos from soldiers and assembling them into an exhibit. The photos may also be published as a book.
Volunteers Say Thank You —Faculty, staff and students will be given red, white and blue sticky notes to write a “thank you” message to veterans which will be posted to a six foot 2D model of the word “Volunteer” located on the 2^nd floor of Hodges Library.

November 14th

“The Things They Carried” discussed at the Common Ground Book Club ” November 14th 11:30 a.m., in the Commons South, Hodges Library. The book, written by Tim O’Brien, is a series of stories about a platoon of American soldiers in Vietnam.

Strategic Plan for 2013-2014

ClimateQual Study

It is an organizational climate and diversity assessment of library staff perception concerning their libraries commitment to the principle of diversity, organizational policy and staff attitudes.

Library Disability Initiative

This initiative is UTK library in partnership with the Office of Disability Services to do an evaluation and staff training regarding library disability services.

College of Communication & Information Diversity Fair

This event will be in Fall 2013. More details will be coming soon.

Past Activities

Pui-Yi Judy Li — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:04:51 +0000

Citizenship Display at the University Center for the Culture Corner

In Jan 2013, the Library Diversity Committee created a Citizenship Display in the University Commons. Works and materials from UT Library displays were presented with the hopes of encouraging a dialog regarding what makes a good citizen.

Committee Members Volunteered at the Race Against Racism

The members of the committee volunteered to set up a table on Jan 13, 2013 at the Race Against Racism. It was presented for the Association of Dr. Martin L King Jr Commemorative Commission celebration.

Human Libraries at the Black Issues Conference

Librarians presented information on the human library at the Black Issues Conference on Feb 2, 2013 to UTK students, faculty and staff. A discussion was led about the meaning and impact of titles. Plans were shared about the future of the program in 2013 and 2014.

Common Grounds Book Club

T Cooper’s Real Man Adventures & The Things They Carried

On Feb 19, 2013, The Common Ground Book Club, Library Dean Steve Smith led the discussion on T Cooper’s Real Man Adventures, a comic look at the author’s transsexual journey.

National Library Week Display

In April’s National Library Week, a display was set up to show appreciation for UT Libraries.

The International Festival

On April 19, 2013, Library Diversity Committee set up a booth at the 2013 UT International Festival Fair. The table featured recipe cards from UT Special Collection Cookbook Collection. Our food theme was Southern recipes.

Upcoming Activities

Diversity Committee February Meeting Notes: February 28, 1:00pm, Room 150

Pui-Yi Judy Li — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:13:06 +0000

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.

Gateways to More Diversity Resources

Pui-Yi Judy Li — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 22:44:19 +0000

Tolerance.org
A place for educators to find thought-provoking news, conversation and support for those who care about diversity, equal opportunity and respect for differences in schools

Diversity & Higher Education

Pui-Yi Judy Li — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 22:43:39 +0000

Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) homepage
A membership organization comprised of more than 730 colleges and universities, AAC&U works to strengthen, advance, and articulate the aims of a 21st century liberal education. Its “Diversity Works” initiative draws on AAC&U’s quarter century of experience in advancing educational equity for all students.

“Diversity Digest”
A quarterly newsletter published by the Association of American Colleges and Universities and designed to enable campus practitioners to facilitate a diversity agenda. Provides information about successful diversity initiatives around the country.

“Diversity Web: An Interactive Resource Hub for Higher Education”
Developed by the Association of American Colleges & Universities and the University of Maryland, this site includes recommended resources, discussion forums, and institution profiles.