by Mark Winston
page 1-3
by DeEtta Jones
page 5-15
This article describes the Association of Research Libraries' (ARL) definition of diversity and informs its programmatic engagement of diversity initiatives. ARL defines diversity broadly in order to encompass individual and group membership, as well as to consider historical context, legal issues and barriers, and changing social views and connection to these issues. Further, the research library managers' role, and organizational development trends, make diversity inextricable from day-to-day operations of libraries. The author describes diversity in a context of other, closely related concepts including: equity, culture and cultural pluralism, affirmative action, and equal employment opportunity.
by Lorna Peterson
page 17-26
This article traces the evolvement of Affirmative Action to diversity and addresses the notion of protested classes. Librarians are encouraged to make equity the goal for increasing racial and ethic diversity in librarianship.
by James F. Williams, II
page 27-48
The process of creating and fostering an institutional environment where everyone feels valued and welcomed and respected requires a change effort that must be comprehensive, systematic and continuous. This article will discuss the major management issues related to building and sustaining a diverse workforce in academic libraries. The management landscape surrounding diversity is dotted with political consent that is often at odds with judicial approval, but effective management of diversity in the academy requires close correlation between the two. And, this is not the case at present. This article will frame the issue in both social and legal terms, discuss the higher education context of the management issue, discuss diversity management in the academic library within the context of higher education, examine the lexicon of the issue, outline management strategies related to the issue, and draw a series of conclusions related to the management of diversity.
by Deborah R. Hollis
page 49-75
Library literature is replete with the discussion of affirmative action and diversity initiatives yet little statistical analysis exists with regard to the gains made by women and minorities in top management positions. Can title IX legislation and affirmative action efforts be linked to the promotion of women and minorities in academic libraries? Have these legislative developments served to increase competition between these groups? This article looks at the last twelve years of gender and race data for eighty-six academic libraries in eight National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I conferences. White women have increased their numbers as deans in this selected sample while women and men of color continue to have very small presence in top library management. Additionally, analysis demonstrates that gains made by women and minorities occur in specific regions of the United States.
by V. Tessa Perry Evans
page 77-92
A discussion of Section 254 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 is presented as well as a call for more definitive policy on universal service. The author also parallels the struggle for equal access to information technologies and the struggle for equal educational opportunities. The author further contends that public school desegration policies failed - 40 years after Brown, the nation's schools are unequal and more segregated than they were before Brown - because the federal government delegated its responsibility to the states. The author warns that if regulation and enforcement of a universal service policy are left up to the states, then it is subject to the same fate as public school desegration policies.
by Zora J. Sampson
page 93-110
This paper is a discussion of the current state of civility today and the impact that increasing diversity has and will have. Civility is defined and discussed in relation to several related concepts. These issues are discussed in broad general terms and also as they affect individuals, groups, libraries and librarians.
by Janice Simmons-Welburn
page 111-121
Academic libraries have for some time focused on the importance of achieving diversity within our organizations. However, the focus is shifting beyond efforts to increase the number of underrepresented groups in the workplace, to managing workplace diversity. The creation of Diversity Dialogue Groups presents libraries with a new model for increasing the understanding and acceptance of differences in the workplace.
by Teresa Y. Neely
page 123-144
The need for national library science diversity initiatives for the recruitment, retention, and promotion of librarians from diverse backgrounds to, and within, the profession is discussed, along with a review of the currently available programs.
by Haipeng Li
page 145-156
A review of library literature shows that while much scholarship has been done on the topic of diversity and diversity programs implemented at large university libraries, little has been written about diversity initiatives at libraries in small liberal arts college settings. This article aims at addressing some of the issues that small college libraries face in dealing with diversity and, in particular, looking at the Oberlin College Library's experience in addressing diversity in the workplace.
by William C. Welburn
page 157-169
The persistence of cultural wars in academic disciplines and among populations within college and university campuses appears to be counterintuitive to the tradition of responsiveness to societal needs that is the hallmark of collegiate curriculum reform, especially throughout the twentieth century. Important issues in higher education's conversation over multiculturalism and the curriculum, ranging from reform of basic curricular requirements to the persistence of ethnic and gender studies programs, are discussed with an eye toward opportunities for effecting change in academic libraries.
by Jose A. Aguinaga
aguinaga@acusd.edu
page 171-190
What is the concept of diversity and how is it interpreted throughout the world? The purpose of this article is to articulate the concept of diversity in other nations. Four countries, Australia, Canada, China and the United Kingdom, were reviewed for this article. These nations provide a representation of what is occurring throughout the world. Further research will be needed to focus on other countries or continents. The concept of diversity has evolved through time and will continue to encompass a nation's history, economy, political and educational systems. Only time will tell if the concept of diversity can be accepted by individuals and organizations, and be regarded as part of a nation's norm.
by E.J. Josey
page 191-202
This essay describes the many political and societal barriers that impede libraries from having a staff that reflects diversity. The efforts to kill affirmative action programs, the diminution of civil rights laws and other laws to protect minorities, the small number of minorities that are recruited to the profession have been barriers quite difficult to overcome. It was President Lyndon B. Johnson who was very firm in his belief that affirmative action was necessary. Presidents who have followed him have given lip service; or we have had a president such as president Reagan, who ran on a platform to do away with affirmative action. During the decline in affirmative action activity, the corporate section of America began to call their affirmative efforts diversity management. Libraries followed the lead of the corporate community and began to call their efforts diversity management to replace affirmative action. The author contends that "if the affirmative action programs had been carried out as President Johnson envisioned we would not be riding the wave of diversity in 1998." The author asserts that the greatest societal barrier is racism, which permeates all of American society's paradigms. Josey calls for an increase in the number of minorities attending ALA accredited library schools. In addition he calls for more libraries to recruit minorities so that library staffs will mirror the people they serve.
Transcribed by Lesa Ng
15 July 1999