Annual Report 2003-2004

Purpose and Organization

The 2003-2004 UT Libraries’ Diversity Committee consisted of eighteen library staff and faculty members from across the organization. In its third year, the Committee continued to endorse a broad definition of diversity and strive to provide programs and resources that enhance knowledge and encourage understanding of diversity.

Below is a summary of Diversity Committee activities and accomplishments, based on the Committee’s goals for 2003-2004, and for the period July 1, 2003-June 30, 2004.

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Library Staff Enrichment

Provide a nourishing work environment for library staff by sponsoring educational and training opportunities and other activities.

Create opportunities for staff to learn about diversity-related issues and topics.

• 11/24/03 – The Committee co-hosted with UT Libraries’ Training a cultural brown-bag on Uganda. Dean Barbara Dewey and David Atkins shared their experiences from their recent travels to Uganda.

Work with campus groups such as the Office of Equity and Diversity (OED) and organizations such as the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) in developing workplace diversity education programs.

• 8/03 -- Committee members met with the Executive Director of the NCCJ to discuss diversity training opportunities and future collaborative efforts.

Provide opportunities for social interaction and communication.

• 12/03 – The Committee co-hosted with the Libraries’ Staff Association the Libraries’ annual holiday party for library employees.
  
• 5/04 – The Committee participated in a cooking class to learn about the food of India.

Continue to sponsor the Libraries’ recognition program for library student workers.

• 2/04 – The Diversity Committee hosted the Libraries’ second Student Recognition Festival. All student workers at the UT Libraries were honored. Special recognition was given to those students who had worked at the Libraries for two or more years. These students were asked to select a library book to be bookplated in their honor.

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Outreach & Collaboration

Provide educational opportunities by creating collaborations within the Libraries and throughout the University.

Continue to support the work of the University’s Council on Freshman Experience (formerly the Life of the Mind Committee).

• 8/03 -- The Committee created a display about the University’s “Life of the
  Mind” reading program. The display highlighted library resources available to support
  the program.
  
• Fall ’03 – The Committee’s newly established Culture Corner featured the “Life of the Mind” book selection, The Color of Water, and library resources that were related to the various themes of the book.

Further develop the Libraries’ Culture Corner as a way to promote the Libraries’ rich and diverse collections.

• Fall ’03 & Spring ’04 -- Each semester the Corner showcased titles from the Libraries’ collection related to the many dimensions of diversity. In the spring a webpage was developed for the Corner, which included additional resources supporting the Corner’s theme.

Explore additional ways to showcase the Libraries’ diverse collections.

• 9/03 – The Committee promoted Banned Books Week at the Culture Corner and in the Reference Department with handouts and posters.

Create a resource file on diversity-related programs on campus and in the local and regional community, and begin to develop contacts and relationships with these groups and programs.

• A resource file was developed which included campus and community programs and organizations.
  
• 4/16/04 – The Committee participated in the University’s International Food Festival and shared the Libraries’ diversity initiatives with the campus community.
  
• 6/6/04 – The Committee sponsored a library team for the NCCJ .(National Conference for Community and Justice) “Walk As One” walk-a-thon. The event brings together community groups to celebrate diversity and unifies the nine-county region to raise awareness of diversity-related issues.

Utilize available publicity venues to share the Libraries’ diversity initiatives, educate and communicate.

• 8/03 – Committee members participated in the Libraries’ “Welcome Back” program for
  students and faculty.

• Various publicity venues were utilized throughout the year to share the Committee’s work. The Culture Corner, for example, was publicized through an article in The Daily Beacon, the Libraries’ webpage and newsletter, and in “@tennessee, Daily Newsletter for Knoxville Faculty and Staff.”
  
• Spring ’04 – The Committee’s webpage was completely revised and updated to more accurately reflect the Libraries’’ diversity initiatives and programs.
  

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Professional Development

Participate in professional development activities to better educate Committee members as well as share the Libraries’ diversity initiatives with the library profession.

Explore ways to educate ourselves as Committee members, taking advantage of educational opportunities on campus and in the community.

• 12/03 – The Committee participated in a workshop conducted by Rosa Thomas, Wellness Coordinator at UT Student Health Services.

Submit program proposals for upcoming conferences such as the National Diversity in Libraries Conference (May 2004) and the Tennessee Library Association Conference (March 2004).

• 3//04 – Diversity-related programs were presented at the annual meeting of the Tennessee Library Association by Kawanna Bright, Jayati Chaudhuri, Maud Mundava, Becky Roller, and Molly Royse.
  
• 5/04 – A program proposal was submitted to the National Diversity in Libraries Conference. Committee member JoAnne Deeken served on the conference publicity committee. Several Committee members attended the conference, which explored ways that libraries can support and improve diversity programs. The University of
  Tennessee was a Gold Sponsor of the conference.

Share with the library profession via publication.

• The Residents’ published in The Tennessee Librarian a paper on “Preparing Diverse Graduates for Careers in Professional Librarianship.”
  
• Progress was made on the completion of an article manuscript regarding the Committee’s 2001 climate survey.
  

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Recruitment

Assist the Libraries and the library profession in recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce.

Participate in the administration of the Libraries’ Diversity Librarian Residency Program.

• The Committee contributed to the success of the first year of the Libraries’ Residency Program. Several Committee members served as mentors and/or supervisors for the Residents during their rotations.
  
• 6/04 -- The Residents received the 2004 LAMA (Library Administration and Management Association ) Cultural Diversity Grant. The grant will be used to support a Diversity Librarians’ Network, which will be created to help Diversity librarians find residency programs and employment, and to provide a forum for sharing ideas.
  

Explore collaborations and partnerships with UT’s School of Information Sciences.

• The Committee began discussions with the School of Information Sciences about potential collaborative efforts regarding diversity and recruitment.
  

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Conclusion

A highlight of 2003-04 for the Diversity Committee was having a part in the success of the first year of the Libraries’ Diversity Librarian Residency Program. The program is fast becoming a model for increasing diversity at UT as well as in our nation’s university libraries. The efforts of the Residents resulted in the UT Libraries being awarded a LAMA Cultural Diversity Grant for the second time in three years. The Committee is proud to have played a role in this accomplishment.

As it looks to the future, the Diversity Committee will continue to strive to develop innovative and meaningful ways to strengthen the Libraries’ leadership role in diversity initiatives at UT. At the same time, however, the Committee, realizes it must devote more time and resources to providing a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive work environment for library staff. This will be a priority for the coming year.

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Submitted by Molly Royse, Co-Chair
UT Libraries’ Diversity Committee
10/04

2005-2006 Annual Report

2003-2004 Annual Report

2002-2003 Annual Report

2001-2002 Annual Report