Annual Report (2003)
ARLIS/NA Diversity Committee

Submitted by: 

Lucie Wall Stylianopoulos, Co-chair
e-mail: lws4n@virginia.edu
tele.: 434-924-6604
fax: 434-982-2678

And

Marilyn Russell, Co-chair 

Leadership: Lucie Wall Stylianopoulos and Marilyn Russell were reappointed co-chairs of the Diversity Committee when the committee was re-constituted in September of 2003.  Both will resign after the New York conference.  Shannon Van Kirk and Miguel Juarez have been appointed the new co-chairs for the committee.

Board Liaison: Daniel Starr

Committee Membership (as of 10/2003): Shannon Van Kirk, Miguel Juarez, Maria Sampang, Ellie Nacheman, Vanessa Kam, Tom Greives, Jing Liao, and Laurel Bliss.

Activities: 

The Diversity Committee was dissolved in September of 2002.  In March 2003, at the Baltimore conference, the former chairs, along with ARLIS/NA President Allen Townsend and Past-President Daniel Starr, organized a Diversity Forum to discuss diversity issues.  The Forum, which was well-attended and transcribed on the ARLIS web site, and the ad-hoc Ethnic Caucus meeting afterwards produced several action items including: a task force to investigate the issue of diversity in ARLIS; a call for the re-instatement of the ARLIS Diversity Committee; the recognition of the need for recruitment of librarians from under-represented groups; and the need to build on the success of the Diversity Travel Award offered by the local chapter at the Baltimore conference.  Finally, the excellent discussion that ensued reinforced the need for ARLIS to send liaisons to other organizations that have a good record in promoting diversity. 

            The diversity task force, which consisted of the two former co-chairs, the president, and the past-president, continued to correspond via e-mail with justifications for the creation of a Diversity Committee as a standing committee reporting directly to the president.  This was accomplished in September of 2003. Former members of the committee from 2002 were notified and some accepted their re-appointment. Three new members were added for 2004.  A Special Liaison to the ALA Office of Diversity was appointed as per the Forum mandate.

Issues:

The Diversity Committee, nevertheless, has not been fully re-integrated into the ARLISNA structure as of the writing of this report.  To this end, the present co-chairs have asked that another Diversity Forum be held at the New York conference to address the outstanding issues from the Baltimore meeting.           

The members of the committee have had little time this year to accomplish more than securing the livelihood of the committee.  We were, however, distressed to find that the Diversity Travel Award for a Library School student of Color was not continued by the New York chapter for their conference.  We were pleased that the DC/VA/MD chapter reaffirmed their commitment to diversity for this year by making their Diversity Travel Award a permanent offer.  We hope to be congratulating the Texas-Mexico chapter on providing a Diversity Award for the Houston conference next year.

Strategic Plan 2000-2005:

Goal I:   To increase the effectiveness of art librarians and visual resources curators by focusing efforts on professional and continuing education, as well as professional development activities.

A. Promote art library and visual resource programs in graduate schools.

C. Develop scholarships, awards, fellowships, and grants to support education and development activities.

Accomplishments:  The Diversity Committee and its sister organization the Ethnic Caucus suggested the creation of a Diversity Travel Award for Library Students of Color.  This was not accepted at the national level but has proven successful at the local chapter level.

Plans: This should become an annual award for each conference given by the local chapter.  Allen Townsend offered this year for his donation to the Society Circle to be earmarked for such an award.  It is hoped that his generosity will be rewarded at the Houston conference.

Goal III:   To exert an influence on external forces affecting the profession through promotion, cooperation, and advocacy.

B. Enhance our affiliations with existing affinity organizations.

Accomplishments: Lucie Wall Stylianopoulos was appointed Special Liaison to the ALA Office of Diversity and through the generosity of the University of Virginia was funded to attend the ALA Mid-Winter conference in San Diego and attended the ALA Diversity Committee meeting.

Plans:  This Special Liaison should continue to be appointed each year.  The liaison would investigate ways to bring in ALA diversity initiatives to ARLIS.  The ARL Program Officer for Diversity and Training has been invited to address the New York conference Diversity Forum.

Goal IV:   To strengthen and increase the effectiveness of the Society’s activities and operations.

A. Provide an efficient organizational structure that is responsive to the membership.

D. Address the need to expand and engage a culturally diverse membership.

Accomplishments:  The Diversity Committee of ARLIS/NA was reinstated with a stronger mandate.

Plans: We hope to increase our awards and target library schools that serve underrepresented populations.