Diversity Committee Meeting Minutes 11/1/01
Present: Manoff, Mack, Keally, McClure, Miller, Roller, Conner, Leach (recorder)
1. Updates
--Harvest of Hope (Becky)
The Harvest reception will be held 4-6 p.m. on November 19th in the 2nd floor faculty lounge. We are inviting Libraries staff, including SLA and CWS student employees, to show our appreciation for their support of our activities, (especially for filling out the questionnaire,) and to unveil the new Diversity web page. Committee members will provide a variety of teas, cider, and sweet bread or cake. Email Becky what you plan to bring so we can assure diversity in our offerings; to have enough to serve possibly 100 people, we should each plan to bring two loaves. Molly has volunteered to bring sweetener, creamer and lemon. Tiff is contacting musicians (Thura has already spoken to Chris Durman.) Molly plans to have the bookmark available so folks can go away with something with the URL on it. We will have the suggestion box and paper out for folks to submit ideas or volunteer to help with activities. Jill will supply a cornucopia basket, and we need to decide how to decorate it. We could use it to hold the bookmarks. Thura will arrange for display of the webpage during the reception. Becky will announce the tea on Share tonight, and will send a Share reminder on 11/15. Thura is working on fliers to distribute as invitations. Jill wants the invitations and notices to encourage supervisors to allow student library employees to attend.
--Webpage (Maribeth)
Webpage is currently under "Committees" on Share. "About the Libraries" appears to be the most appropriate place for the public page. Extensive discussion ensued about whether the existing page is suitable for public consumption. PLEASE review the webpage now and let Maribeth know if you think any item now there would not be appropriate for public consumption or if it could 'go public' as is.
The webpage availability took on new urgency when Thura reported about a program she attended where Provost Crabtree discussed women's issues on campus. He used the Libraries' Diversity Committee as a model and suggested that every UT unit should mount an initiative to develop a diversity program. He suggested they create a definition, define missions, and plan activities to encourage diversity, just like we've been doing. While it's nice to be held up as a model, this will also invite scrutiny and we wish to put or best foot forward. So please review the page and respond to this request ASAP.
--Conferences
We have two conference proposals pending: (Tamara)
· TLA session proposal (3/27-29, Nashville): All People Considered: Diversity in Tennessee Libraries. Proposals are being reviewed today and we expect notification mid-November. This program will discuss initiatives and activities and methods for sustaining momentum. Thura is contacting Jesse Carney Smith as a possible guest speaker.
· 3rd National Conference on Diversity in University Libraries (4/6-8, Ames IA): Expect notification 1/02. Program proposal includes discussion of our assessment and results of the survey, interactions between staff and patrons.
And a grant application for a conference proposal: (Jill)
· The Library Administration and Management Association grant nomination must be submitted on behalf of the Committee by a LAMA member. Aubrey will nominate us. If we are successful, the $1,000 will be seed money to develop a 3 hour preconference workshop for TLA in 2003: Creating a Vision of Diversity for Your Library: Recipe for Success. Participants will be asked to bring samples of successful activities from their libraries, and will go away with a mission statement, a diversity definition, and a list of activities.
--Corvino lecture 11/16 (Joe)
Joe was not at the meeting, but we understand that he was going to offer the Library Auditorium as a venue. We are waiting for whatever publicity the Philosophy Department will create, and we will distribute and post that.
2. Other business
Tamara has been in touch with Jennie Richter but has not gone over to the office to pick up the surveys. Tamara will send a Share announcement inviting staff to still send in their responses even though the deadline is today.
Jill suggested that we try to mount a display in the Hodges Galleria similar to the attention getting Holocaust exhibit last year. Thura and Jill will decide what activities to highlight, and Jill will get posters printed and the display mounted. We hope to accomplish this before the semester is over. It would also be timely given Dr. Crabtree's praise of the Libraries' diversity initiatives.
Becky reported that our brick for the Black Cultural Center will read: UT Libraries Diversity Committee 2001.
Next meeting (11/13) agenda items:
1. Committee membership. Rotation off of present members; student employee representation to include Student Library Assistants &/or College Work Study students. Thura will consult with Barbara to get her ideas on this.
2. Corvino lecture (Joe)
3. Survey report (Tamara)
4. Public web page (Maribeth)
5. Report on display (Jill)
6. Evaluation of Harvest tea