Presidents Program
In YALSA’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Plan YALSA lays out our commitment to increase diversity and work actively to redress institutional inequalities and systemic power asymmetries that affect our society, to challenge bias, harassment, and discrimination, and to provide equal opportunities for all persons. One approach to support these commitments is to consider equity, diversity, and inclusion when creating outcomes and assessments. YALSA’s Teen Services Competencies for Library Staff describes Outcomes and Assessment as the impact of library programs for and with teens and use of data to inform service development, implementation, and continuous learning. When focusing on the impact that services have on teen lives, library staff develop services that have meaning in teens’ lives and in their future. Having a clear plan for the outcomes-based assessment of library activities for and with teens guarantees that library staff can evaluate practices and makes changes to better support all teens. With equity, diversity, and inclusion focused outcomes and clear assessments in hand library staff articulate and advocate for the value of the work they do with and for teens to colleagues, administrators, families, community partners, decision makers, and elected officials.
The panel brings together the expertise of Nicole Cooke, Associate Professor in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois; Caroline “Caro” Williams, Assistant Professor in the iSchool at the University of Maryland; Josie Chang-Order and Sari Widman, University of Colorado Boulder. They share their experience with supporting equity, diversity, and inclusion from their own work and provide implementable ideas. Come and listen to this great conversation!
ALA Unit/Subunit: YALSA
Meeting Type: President's Program
Cost: Included with full conference registration.
Open/Closed: Open
Nicole Cooke
Associate Professor and MS/LIS program Director
University of Illinois, School of Information Sciences
Caro Williams-Pierce
Assistant Professor in the iSchool
University of Maryland, College Park
Josie Chang-Order
University of Colorado Boulder
Sari Widman
University of Colorado Boulder