Leadership, Management and Organizational Development
Poster Session
Gayatri Singh, MLS
Reference & Information Services Coordinator, and Librarian for Communication
UC San Diego Library
Cristela Garcia-Spitz
Digital Initiatives Librarian
UC San Diego Library
Driven by internal and external institutional changes surrounding diversity, new strategic approaches are needed in order to position libraries as diverse and inclusive organizations. As diversity in higher education and libraryland is trending, many libraries have formed diversity committees. What is the purpose of these committees? What is their impact? For libraries that have had committees for a while, have we seen any progress? Or do we look around and say ‘same as it ever was’? This poster focuses on a case study of the UC San Diego Library. The Diversity Committee first formed in the 1989 as an Ad Hoc Committee of the Librarians Association of the University of California, San Diego (LAUC-SD) around the discussion of affirmative action. The work of the committee evolved and broadened over the years. To help assess the climate of the organization, the Library implemented the ClimateQUAL® survey in 2012. After carrying out the survey, the charge and membership of the Diversity Committee expanded to include all Library staff. It continued to evolve from a committee that focused on thought-provoking programming and events, to a committee that also acts in an advisory capacity on policy matters such as career advancement, inclusion and participation. Along the way, there have been institutional challenges and growth. As our Library Diversity & Inclusion Committee has evolved, we will examine what we have accomplished, how we have changed, and what we hope for the future. By focusing on the big picture, we hope to show that change and growth is possible. We will also highlight ways diversity committees need to do different types of work (educational programming and policy advising) to make any kind of progress toward an inclusive organization.