Friday, February 03, 2006

Diversity: It's Everyone's Responsibility

Diversity in LIS education and the workforce remains a critical issue. Each of us can work to recruit more people of color into the field and support our colleagues within their profession. Here are two events that LIS students are helping plan in our iSchool.

"Gracias a Todos: LIS Education for Latino/Latina Librarians"

The iSchool and Corazon de Tejas (Central Texas chapter of REFORMA) is organizing an event on 18 Feb to recognize Latino/Latina alumni. Four alums will discuss their educational experiences and career developments and lead the audience in a deep discussion of LIS education. Donations of reading material, socks, and blankets will be requested for PreK-6th grade students at a school in southern Mexico.

"Native Expressions"

The iSchool is hosting a gathering to explore Native creative expression. Scheduled speakers include Dr. Heid Erdrich (topic: poetry), Roy Boney (topic: Native language claymation projects with tribal schools), Karen Buller (topic: Native peoples and IT), and Jacob Jimenez (topic: poetry). This event is scheduled for 10 March.