Diane Kolosionek, Cleveland State University

ALAO Diversity Committee Wants Your Input
The ALAO Diversity Committee is in the process of reviewing ideas for their spring program and we would love to hear your thoughts and ideas. If you have attended or heard of a great program recently that speaks to diversity, inclusion and equity in libraries, please let us know by sending an email to the ALAO Diversity Committee Chair, Diane Kolosionek (d.kolosionek44@csuohio.edu). Thanks for your consideration.

NEW from ARL: Diversity Plans and Programs, SPEC Kit 319
The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) has published Diversity Plans and Programs, SPEC Kit 319, which explores what progress has been made in ARL member libraries to recruit and retain a diverse workforce; their recruitment and retention strategies; the elements of programs that successfully support an inclusive workplace; the people, groups, and/or committees responsible for overseeing the programs; and how libraries are assessing the effectiveness and success of such programs.

This survey indicates there has been a significant increase in the number of groups and committees formed to address diversity or inclusive workplace goals in the past ten years. Approximately half of the responding libraries have ongoing presentations and/or workshops on issues relevant to promoting an inclusive workplace.

Recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce continues to be a challenge for libraries. It is evident that research libraries are committed to actively recruit librarians from underrepresented ethnic/racial groups and have employed a variety of strategies to increase the diversity of applicant pools.

This SPEC Kit includes documentation from respondents in the form of diversity statements, diversity plans, and descriptions of diversity and recruitment programs. Programs and plans from Ohio University and Kent State University are included. For more information, including an executive summary and table of contents, please visit the ARL SPEC Kit website.