| Program Part 1: Tuesday, September 29, 2020, 2 - 4:15 pm ET Session 1 | 2:00-2:15 pm ET What Does It Mean To Be Antiracist?
Mahnaz Dar, Reference and Professional Reading Editor at Library Journal and School Library Journal, will provide an introduction to the course, highlighting key concepts, including #ownvoices, privilege, and intersectionality, and explaining how the discussion groups and assignments will work. Speaker:
Mahnaz Dar, Reference and Professional Reading Editor, Library Journal/School Library Journal
Session 2 | 2:15-3:00 pm ET Acknowledging the Elephant in the Library: Making Implicit Biases Explicit
Serving diverse and marginalized populations is rewarding, but complicated, work. Among the barriers to inclusive service is implicit bias. It is important for information professionals to examine and acknowledge their own privileges and biases, and recognize their role in creating and sustaining a welcoming environment in the library for every person who seeks access to the library’s materials, services, programs, and spaces. In this session, you'll unpack the concept of implicit bias, as well as the closely related concepts of stereotypes, microaggressions, and cultural competence, and walk away with ideas for how to use this deeper understanding to enhance your critical information practice. Speaker:
Nicole A. Cooke, PhD, MEd, MLS, Augusta Baker Endowed Chair and Associate Professor, School of Library and Information Science, College of Information and Communications, University of South Carolina
Intermission | 3:00-3:15 pm ET
Session 3 | 3:15-4:00 pm ET Dismantling White Supremacy in the Library
In this session, participants will gain a deeper understanding of white supremacy and how it operates on institutional and individual levels. You will learn how to recognize and address explicit and implicit racist manifestations. Real-world examples will help contextualize the phenomena of white supremacy within public, school, and academic libraries. Most importantly, the session will move beyond understanding white supremacy, focusing on tangible steps toward dismantling racist systems of oppression. Speaker:
Cassie Sheets, Adjunct Instructor, College of Humanities and Sciences, University of Montana (MT)
Part 2: Tuesday, October 6, 2020, 2 - 4 pm ET Session 1 | 2:00-2:45 How Diverse Is Your Library? Conducting an Equity Audit
In this session, an expert librarian will discuss how you can assess the level of equity at your library by conducting regular audits of collections, displays, and programming. This vital work will help you align offerings to community needs, identify gaps in service, and set benchmarks for equity, inclusion, and diversity. You will learn how to perform a diversity audit, including which salient data points should be included, how to gather the requisite information, how to set goals to address gaps, and how to make diversity and inclusion integral parts of collection management and promotion. Speaker: To be announced soon
Intermission | 2:45-3:00 pm ET
Session 2 | 3:00-3:45 pm ET Cultivating Antiracist/Antibias Workplaces and Hiring Practices
Creating an antiracist culture at your library must involve consideration of staff culture and hiring practices. In this session, you’ll learn how to develop and implement antiracist/antibiased interviewing practices, steps to take toward fostering inclusive workplaces, and how to conduct an organizational talent equity audit at your own library. Speaker: To be announced soon
Part 3 - Tuesday, October 13, 2020, 2 - 4 pm ET Session 1 | 2:00-3:15 pm ET Using Local History to Combat Racism Learn how connecting to your community’s past can open up rich conversations about the future in this inspiring session. This session provides a deep dive into how librarians can use their institutions’ historical collections and resources to help patrons, students, and community members explore, critically analyze, and combat systemic racism. Speaker:
Angel Jewel Tucker, Youth Services Manager, Johnson County Library, Overland Park, KS
Intermission | 3:15-3:30 pm ET
Session 2 | 3:30-4:15 pm ET Liberation in the Library
How does our personal identity impact collection development and programming? A truly inclusive library collection begins, first, with ourselves and considering how our blindspots can impact what our library spaces become. Creating libraries that reflect, and are safe for, BIPOC children and youth, is an active, ongoing practice requiring intent and unflagging effort. In this closing keynote, Dr. Kim Parker will help you think through how you can curate collections and create an environment that is liberatory and reflective of diverse populations. Speaker:
Dr. Kimberly N. Parker, Teacher Developer | 