In addition to being one of the thrusts of the Simmons College strategic plan, diversity is a major facet of the 2010 Strategic Plan of the American Library Association, the largest library association in the world. At GSLIS, which is at the intersection of these plans, we're working to increase diversity within our college, and, by extension, our profession.
Prior to the American Library Association's 2007 Annual Conference, Spectrum Scholars from Simmons GSLIS participated in the Spectrum Scholars Institute. From left to right, they are Alma Ramos McDermott, Amber Moore, Brenda Mitchell-Powell (in front), Holly Smith, Diana Wakimoto, and Emerita Yanes.
Archives Program:
In summer 2007, Professor Tywanna Whorley was awarded $26,480 from Simmons' Diversity Council (TDC) to increase the number of students of color in its Archives Management Program through recruitment and retention. The project includes mentoring and practical work experience for students.
This marked the third year the GSLIS recruitment project was funded by a TDC grant, and each of those years, GSLIS Dean Michele Cloonan matched that funding with a $15,750 scholarship for one student. However, 2007 was the first year that GSLIS collaborated with the Simmons College Archives, part of the Simmons Library, thanks to the support of Library Director Daphne Harrington.
Similar to the library field, archives is an area where students of color have been underrepresented. Past TDC grants have enabled GSLIS to recruit students of color, especially from historically Black colleges, and to receive mentoring from Whorley and from each other. "From experience, I know that support from your fellow classmates can make a world of difference, so I encourage students to talk to each other about any issues they may be facing," she said. "Quality mentoring is one of the most effective ways to understand and meet the needs of graduate students of color, and thus support our efforts to recruit and retain culturally diverse students."
Archvist work with the records, manuscripts, and papers of people and institutions within many different settings, including print and all electronic media, and work in colleges and universities, museums, public libraries, corporations, and government agencies. Whorley, who was hired in October 2007 by Boston University as an archivist to arrange and describe its extensive Martin Luther King, Jr. collection, brought some of her interns with her one day to view the vast collection. One of the students was so excited, because she was able to touch the briefcase that Dr. King has used. She said she thought she was going to faint afterward," Whorley said with a smile. (Excerpted from In the Loop, April 11, 2008)
In spring 2004, GSLIS held a daylong retreat with the purpose of addressing ways to encourage diversity — among students and faculty, as well as throughout the curriculum. The GSLIS Diversity Action Plan (DAP) was developed based on the discussions held with faculty, students, and staff.
Since that time, there have been additional events and initiatives:
- The beta version of the ALANA (African American, Latin American, Native American, and Asian) Website Project was developed by a team including Mimi Kolosseus, former Dean's Fellow for Special Projects, Em Claire Knowles, Assistant Dean for Student Services and Jennifer Doyle, GSLIS Director of Curriculum and Communications. The presentation will highlight notable librarians of color among our alumni.
- GSLIS conducted a second diversity survey.
- Two diversity courses were developed with funding from the Simmons Diversity Council:
- GSLIS has welcomed more than 20 ALA Spectrum Initiative Scholars—one of the highest numbers among LIS schools—since the program began.
- Through Diversity Summits and through ongoing lectures, GSLIS has welcomed speakers such as De Etta Jones of the Association of Research Libraries, who spoke about incorporating diversity concerns into strategic planning, and Robert Martin, Director of IMLS, who spoke to the GSLIS community about Diversity initiatives in IMLS and in the LIS field. These summits provide an opportunity for the Simmons GSLIS and LIS community to continue the dialogue on ways to improve diversity at Simmons.
- Simmons GSLIS hosts the monthly meetings of the Massachusetts Black Librarians Network.
- LISSA planned its first Alternative Spring Break at the Farragut School in March 2005. During the fall semester LISSA solicited volunteers to collect books and help organize this event. Spearheading the initiative were LISSA representative Gil Rosen and MSLMA (Massachusetts School Library Media Association)/GSLIS students Linda Carroll and Eva Radding. The program continues to occur on an annual basis.
Diversity Survey
During the Spring 2006 semester, the GSLIS Diversity Advisory Committee invited students to participate in an online survey about diversity at GSLIS. A total of 210 students completed the questionnaire between March 27 and April 21. The response rate was 31%. This was the second year that GSLIS students were surveyed about diversity.
The questionnaire asked students to rate their agreement with various statements related to diversity (using a 5-point scale). Topics included: the importance of having a diverse faculty/staff/student body, GSLIS' commitment to increasing diversity, students' comfort with people of different backgrounds, the importance of including diversity in the curriculum, and how often students discuss diversity issues both inside and outside the classroom.
If you have any questions about the survey or any concerns related to diversity, please contact:
Dr. Em Claire Knowles, Assistant Dean for Student Services
Convener of the GSLIS Diversity Advisory Committee
emclaire.knowles@simmons.edu
617-521-2798
In This Section
See Also
- Academic Initiatives
- Diversity Initiatives
- International Initiatives
- Technology Initiatives
