Office for Diversity
American Library Association
50 E. Huron St.
Chicago, Illinois 60611
1-800-545-2433 ext. 5020
Fax: 312-280-3256
Email: diversity@ala.org
Mission
The Office for Diversity serves as a clearinghouse for diversity resources and a focal point for administering and fostering diversity as a value and key action area of the Association. The Office serves the membership though its initiatives and programs, resource development, active consultations and training on diversity issues that impact the profession, the workplace, and information service delivery. Topics include such issues as recruitment and retention; personal and professional leadership; organizational change; team and capacity building; service strategies for diverse user populations; and effective interpersonal communications.
News Links
Initiatives & Projects
We currently administer the following major initiatives in support of our mission:
- Spectrum Scholarship Program
- Diversity Research Grants
- Diversity Leadership Institutes
- Diversity Currents - annual conference program series
Oversight Groups & Meeting Schedules
The Council Committee on Diversity(COD) provides a forum to research, monitor, discuss, and address national diversity issues and trends impacting the library profession. Additionally, the Committee on Diversity provides ALA Council and ALA membership with information needed for the establishment of ALA policies, actions and initiatives related to national diversity issues and trends. Visit individual Committee and Subcommittee pages for more information and meeting schedules.
- Committee on Diversity(COD)
- Diversity Council, a COD subcommittee
- Diversity Leadership Institute Planning, a COD planning group
(about the Diversity Leadership Institutes) - Diversity Research Grant Advisory Committee, a COD subcommittee
(about the Diversity Research Grants) - Diversity Research Grant Jury, a Diversity Research Grant Advisory subcommittee
- Many Voices, One Nation Planning, a COD planning group
(about the Many Voices event) - Spectrum Advisory Committee, a COD subcommittee
(about the Spectrum Scholarship Program) - Spectrum Scholarship Jury, a Spectrum Advisory subcommittee
- Spectrum Scholar Interest Group, a Spectrum Advisory subcommittee
- Spectrum Leadership Institute Planning, a Spectrum Advisory planning group
(about the Spectrum Leadership Institute)
Events
We are currently planning a variety of enrichening programs and sessions for the 2009 ALA Midwinter Meeting and the 2009 Annual Conference. Please visit the ALA Presentations Archive to retrieve materials from past ALA Annual Conferences and Midwinter Meetings. We also maintain a Diversity Wiki that includes a Calendar of Events. The wiki provides an interactive space for library diversity advocates to collaborate, communicate and connect with the most up-to-date information on diversity activities and issues that impact the profession, the workplace, and the quality of direct service delivery. Visit http://wikis.ala.org/diversity to add your events or view upcoming sessions of interest. Please contribute!Popular Resources
The Office for Diversity is pleased to provide an ever-growing collection of resources to assist you in building diversity. If you have materials and resources to share, please email your suggestions to diversity@ala.org. Our major resource development areas are:
- Strategic Planning for Diversity
- Employment Discrimination Resources
- Recruitment and Retention
- Diversity Statistics
- Training Opportunities
- Building Leadership Through Professional Involvement
Staff
Gwendolyn Prellwitz
Acting Director
312-280-5048
gprellwitz@ala.org
Manages the Spectrum Scholarship program and related grants; liaisons to diversity committees to support the creation of new resources and mechanisms for the recruitment and retention of a diverse library workforce; manages Office for Diversity and Spectrum communications and marketing; develops and manages web site and data collection; edits and coordinates publications; manages records and statistics.
Rob Gould
Administrative Assistant
312-280-5020
rgould@ala.org
Supports the the Spectrum Scholarship program and related grants; assists with Office for Diversity and Spectrum communications and marketing; develops Office for Diversity reports and materials; coordinates meetings, conference and institute activities.
