UM Libraries' Diversity Committee
2001 Strategic Plan
Mission Statement:
The UM Libraries' Diversity Committee exists to support the implementation of the campus' Diversity Initiative within the Libraries and beyond. Primary dimensions are the following: age, ethnicity, gender, physical abilities/qualities, race and sexual orientation. The Committee believes it is essential to recognize, respect and promote each individual's uniqueness within the larger and more important context of our shared experience as human beings. The Committee is dedicated to staff and customer education to increase diversity awareness and effect positive change in the library environment.
I. Continuous Learning Environment
Goal: To promote an organizational environment in which staff have the opportunity to continuously acquire new knowledge and skills related to diversity issues by offering a multifaceted array of programs throughout the year.
- Objective 1: Establish a Continuous Learning Subcommittee to initiate, monitor, publicize, and assess learning programs in which the Committee will play a role.
- Objective 2: Build a partnership with the Staff Training and Development Office in early 2001 to expand the bimonthly New Staff Orientation Program by presenting a brief overview of Diversity Committee programs and projects at scheduled sessions.
- Objective 3: Create alliances with various Library departments and campus groups to expand the Fall 2000 PBS/Video Satellite Program Series (October 26 through December 8, 2000) by creating a programmatic approach to selected topics. The planning phase of this project will begin in February 2001.
- Objective 4: Continue to build on the results of the Library Climate and Diversity Assessment by, for example: Brown Bag Lunches, Open Forums, etc.
- Objective 5: By March 1, design evaluation tools to be utilized for every major Committee learning activity. Rigorous assessment of programs and projects will be achieved, documented and distributed to measure success, and accountability and will provide critical information for planning purposes.
II. Diversity Database
Goal: To have staff contribute their time and expertise in selecting, writing, and evaluating University of Maryland Libraries' guides, other libraries' guides and Web sites to link to the campus-wide Diversity Database.
- Objective 1: Continue to work with the campus-wide Diversity Database Committee during 2001 on the following areas:
- Gender-specific resources
- Religion-specific resources
- Age-specific resources
- Review for overall currency of information
- Reciprocal linking between UM Libraries documents and UM
Diversity Database
- Objective 2: Report Library diversity events to be listed on the UM Diversity Database (Database Subcommittee). Include diversity-related books, journals, and videos.
III. Diversity Committee Web Site
Goal: To enable Libraries Staff and others to learn of library diversity initiatives, programs, collections, and partnerships, and be a resource for ideas, questions, and links to additional helpful information.
- Objective 1: Create a place where staff and others may visit to heighten their awareness of diversity activities by keeping up-to-date information and events online.
- Objective 2: Provide a means to communicate the Diversity Committee's Strategic Plan and list of accomplishments to all staff. The Libraries' Diversity Committee Strategic Plan for 2001 will be available on the Web site by February 15, 2001.
IV. Campus-Wide Collaboration on Diversity Programs
Goal: To ensure a university environment that is inclusive as well as diverse and one that fosters a spirit of community among faculty, staff, and students.
- Objective 1: Continue to attend, support, and partner with other campus departments and organizations on diversity issues and promote campus events to Libraries' staff through e-mails, Library Matters, our Web site, etc.
- Objective 2: Collaboration with the Office of Human Relations to sponsor a Diversity Research Forum in March 2001 on "Diversity and the Media."
V. Operational Initiatives
Goal: To strengthen the influence of the Committee through various marketing and promotional activities.
- Objective 1: By March 2001, initiate a yearly report on Committee's activities to be shared with all Libraries' staff.
- Objective 2: Continue to increase the Committee's Web site content and links to promote diversity initiatives and awareness.
- Objective 3: Continue to maintain the Diversity-PBS Listserv, established in November 2000, to provide a means for discussion among students, staff, and faculty on the University of Maryland at College Park campus concerning diversity issues, throughout the programmatic approach to select diversity topics from the PBS series.
- Objective 4: Continue to submit monthly articles of interest to Library Matters in our column, Diversity Matters.
Written: February 2001
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© 2001 University of Maryland Libraries
Last Revised: February 26, 2001
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