Diversity Committee Minutes for May 17, 2001

From the Diversity Committee Meeting, May 17, 2001
• Strategic Priorities for Committee Action

1. Articulate the components of an ideally diverse library in order to understand our preferred outcomes. Some items discussed:
   
   • Patrons and staff feel comfortable, respected, and valued
   • Teams and branches work without barriers
   • Everyone is welcome

2. Assess the state of the libraries’ diversity in order to focus committee activities. Some possible approaches:
   
   • Conduct a diversity inventory
   • Gather staff opinion and ideas

• Other Goals and Ideas

1. Raise awareness of diversity issues among staff
   • Bring library employees (faculty, staff, students) together to educate each other on diversity

2. Make the University population aware of the libraries’ commitment to diversity
   • Webpage on diversity
   • Banners in public library spaces
   • Create a clearinghouse on diversity issues and activities on campus
   • Collaborate with the diversity committee in Social Work, Residence Halls

3. Make patrons aware of the diversity of the libraries’ collections
   • Targeted newsletters
   • Programs
   • Displays/Exhibits

4. Create a welcoming environment
   • Provide equitable service to all
   • Build on excellence of service

5. Create and retain a diverse workforce
   • Recruitment
   • Recognize and reward individuals within the library system

6. Create broad collaborative initiatives
   • Support civic efforts to recognize and appreciate diversity

7. Seek opportunities for external funding for diversity programing