Leadership, Management and Organizational Development
Poster Session
Maggie Farrell, MPA, MLS
Dean of Libraries
University of Nevada Las Vegas
Beth McNeil
Dean of Library Services
Iowa State University
Janice Welburn
Dean of Libraries
Marquette University
A foundational aspect of diversity is the value of inclusion. With inclusion, a culture of openness and engagement can be experienced by all employees. Recognizing and cherishing the richness of diversity, through a range of opinions, ideas, culture, and individuals, strengthens an organization's ability to achieve its mission. While the steps to creating an inclusive culture will vary by organization, strategies for doing so include actions and initiatives in these areas: Create a culture of respect. Encourage and value variety of inputs. Foster dialogue throughout the library. With inclusion, leaders can create a culture of openness and engagement for all employees. Much of an organization’s success in inclusion is led by a library director modeling behavior that solicits and encourages various perspectives and insights from every level within the organization. This panel will discuss best practices that contribute to an environment of inclusiveness supporting diversity goals. Additionally, the panel will discuss strategies to create a culture that is engaging for all employees and its community. At the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, library employees developed a shared set of values guiding how employees work together. Ongoing reviews and discussions refer back to the shared principles underscoring a commitment to inclusivity. At Iowa State University, recruitment and hiring processes have evolved to lead to a more inclusive process. One initiative at ISU has been to engage library staff in conversations around the University’s Principles of Community. These conversations are leading a better understanding of issues around diversity and inclusion for the library and the university. At Marquette University, the library has engaged in an aggressive process of aligning campus and library strategic priorities around equity and inclusion. The library has also taken specific steps to address the results of the university’s 2015 climate survey by adopting inclusive hiring practices through search committee training and assessment of application pools, ongoing supervisory training, and increasing the diversity of the library’s student workforce. As a result of this discussion, participants will be able to consider their strategy to foster inclusiveness that will lead to diversity goals of their organizations and our profession.