[Libs-Or] diversity preconference at ALA

[Wyma Rogers]

Invitation to  ALA  Diversity Institute and Dinner honoring  EJ Josey
( Annual Meeting Pre-conference, Orlando FL, June
2004)								
Dear Colleague,

By the year 2050 Demographers predict that sharp population increases
among African-Americans, Asian Pacific-Islanders, Latinos and
Native-Americans will result in a society more racially, ethnically,
and
linguistically diverse than ever before.  If libraries are to remain
relevant, exceed existing capacities, predict and provide new service
areas, they must work to build core competencies reflective of the
needs
of our shifting demographics.

As part of its commitment to provide learning and leadership
opportunities to library practitioners and educators, the Office for
Diversity offers its first Diversity Leadership Institute: "Put
Diversity into Action @ Your Library" on June 24 and 25, 2004 as an
ALA Annual Pre-Conference program in Orlando, Fl.  This one and a half
day institute examines the concepts of diversity and leadership and
provides attendees with hands-on techniques and resources to assist in
furthering diversity leadership initiatives in their libraries.
Diversity experts and leaders in the profession such as Dr. Charles V.
Willie, Lynn Evarts, Camille Hazeur, and Dr. George Henderson will
move
the dialogue beyond basic diversity training to expose participants to
the issues that affect everyday practice. Content covered in scheduled
sessions will include:

	-Understanding and using thinking style differences 
	-Exploration of personal histories, experiences and familial
attitudes 
	-Recognizing and adapting attitudes concerning race and
ethnicity 
	-Charting Your Leadership Potential

A special feature of the Institute will be a dinner honoring Dr. E.J.
Josey on June 24, 2004. Dr. Josey has spent nearly 50 years advocating
and agitating for diversity for the profession of library and
information science. He is currently professor emeritus, University of
Pittsburgh, School of Information Sciences. The author of more than
400
books and articles, he was recently awarded Honorary Membership to ALA.

Dr. Josey will reflect on his life as one of the profession's most
influential leaders. 

As one of the few national continuing education opportunities for
library professionals seeking to expand diversity leadership skills,
this Institute promises to be a valuable professional development
tool.
Librarians, library staff, human resources professionals, library and
information science educators and students, and library trustees will
all benefit from insightful discussion and demonstration.  As we
strive
to continue to make libraries relevant to and representative of the
communities we serve, investing in diversity leadership is one of the
best investments libraries can make. 

Online registration can be completed on the ALA
Annual Conference Registration page at www.ala.org. Feel free to share
information about the Diversity Leadership Institute with others in
your
library or institution and to contact me with any questions you may
have
about the 2004 Diversity Leadership Institute.

The program is sponsored by the Office for Diversity, with Tracie Hall
as the Executive Director.  Please contact her for more information
directly.  Her info is below this message.

Tracie D. Hall
Director, Office for Diversity and the Spectrum Initiative
American Library Association
50 East Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611
Telephone 312-280-5020 
800-545-2433 ext. 5020 
Fax 312-280-3256
email thall at ala.org 


  See you in Orlando at Conference!

Best,

Patty

Patty Wong
Deputy Director of Library Services
Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library
605 N. El Dorado Street
Stockton, CA  95202

patty.wong at ci.stockton.ca.us

(209) 937-8364 
(209) 937-8683 fax


>>> "Wyma Rogers" <wyma at newportlibrary.org> 4/27/2004 11:31:24 AM >>>
I appreciate John Berry's and Jonathon Betz-Zall's comments, and
especially
the list from John Berry that showed me how privileged I am.

In Oregon our Association conference theme two weeks ago was
"Diversity, Not
Window Dressing."  We had excellent speakers who opened our eyes to how
easy
it is to delude yourself and your organization into thinking you are
open to
other cultures.

I attended a pre-conference seminar put on by the Intercultural
Communication Institute in Portland.  Perhaps such seminars have been
offered at ALA and I hadn't noticed.  One of the problems is that
people
like me may think we don't need any more diversity training - that
we're
pretty sure we're among those who get it.

Actually, I'm no longer sure that I'll ever get it.  But I am convinced
that
being conscious of cultural differences and changing our behavior in
interactions can be helpful.

Sincerely,

Wyma Rogers
Oregon Chapter Councilor
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://listsmart.osl.state.or.us/pipermail/libs-or/attachments/20040429/57e80097/attachment.htm