Updates from State Library Services
Save the Date: Learn About
Increasing Racial Equity in Libraries
Minnesota’s cities and towns are
rapidly diversifying. Libraries, like other government institutions, are
expected to respond to diverse community needs. By assessing and adapting
library services with an equity lens, libraries can provide responsive, quality
library services to all Minnesotans.
State Library Services is
hosting All Are Welcome: The Role of Libraries in Advancing Racial
Equity for library managers, board members, and front-line staff. This free workshop
provides an introduction to the role, responsibilities and opportunities for
libraries to advance racial equity. Participants will learn about the
historical and present-day causes of racial inequities and participate in
facilitated discussions and interactive exercises focused on normalizing racial
equity as a core value.
Attendees will learn key
terminology; how to operationalize racial equity; and how to organize
internally and in partnership with community organizations. They will become
familiar with a framework for institutional change and library practices used
by libraries in the Government Alliance on Race and Equity’s Library Interest
Group. This workshop also introduces a racial equity tool that can be used in
decisions relating to policies, practices, programs, budget, and communication
strategies. Participants gain skill at identifying and addressing
institutional and structural racism, and building capacity to advance racial
equity in their workplace.
Workshop objectives
- Gain
understanding of the government’s role in contributing to racial inequity
and our responsibility to advance racial equity;
- Develop
a shared racial equity analysis, including definitions of key terminology
and concepts (racial equity/inequity, implicit/explicit bias,
individual/institutional/structural racism); and,
- Gain
an introductory understanding of operationalizing and organizing for
racial equity.
Workshop dates and locations
This free workshop will be repeated in
three locations.
-
Grand
Rapids Area Library, Grand Rapids, on Monday, November 5, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
-
Blue
Earth County Library, Mankato, on Friday, November 16, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
-
Hennepin
County Brookdale Library, Brooklyn Center, on Monday, December 3,
9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Workshops are limited to 50
participants each. Registration will open soon.
Workshop leaders
Gordon Goodwin, Midwest Regional
Project Manager for the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE), leads
the workshop. Gordon has worked for 30 years with and for foundations,
community development organizations and public/private sector consortia in
metropolitan and rural settings to promote racial justice.
Jane Eastwood, Consultant,
Independent Racial Equity and Libraries, is a co-presenter. Eastwood is the
former Library Director for the Saint Paul Public Library and Education
Director for the City of Saint Paul.
For questions about the workshop,
contact Joe
Manion, Library Development and Services Specialist at State Library
Services, 651-582-8640.
This project is made possible, in
part, by funding from the Minnesota Department of Education through a Library
Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant from the Institute of Museum and
Library Services.
See You at the MLA Conference!
We’ll be at the Minnesota Library Association (MLA) Conference right alongside you—presenting sessions, attending section meetings and conference sessions, and looking forward to chatting with you. Please check out the following sessions our talented staff is presenting. We hope to see you at the conference!
Thursday, October 11, 8-8:50 a.m.
Dream (Projects) Come True with LSTA Grants
Thursday, October 11, 9:10-10 a.m.
Everybody Supercharge: Supercharged Storytimes for All Training
Friday, October 12, 9:15-10:05 a.m.
Library Cards for Every Student: Customizing a Program for Your Community
Friday, October 12, 9:15-10:05 a.m.
Getting to Measures that Matter
Friday, October 12, 10:30-11:20 a.m.
Libraries in Laundromats: Making Information and Services Accessible for Low-Income Families
Friday, October 12, 10:30-11:20 a.m.
What’s New in State Library Services?
Friday, October 12, 10:30-11:20 a.m.
MN American Indian Children's Literature: Evaluating Resources and Building Networks
Friday, October 12, 3:35-4:25 p.m.
Providing Customized Reading Services - Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library
Friday, October 12, 3:35-4:25 p.m.
An Inside Look at the Library Construction Grant
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