Diverse Personnel in Libraries

Diversity

Identity

Interviewees

Interviewing

Life History

Memory

Mentoring

Oral Historians: Tasks and Roles

Oral History

Oral History: Definitions

Shared Authority

Spectrum Initiative

Storytelling

Trauma

Validity

1. “Besides cultural diversity, we also need to be working toward what I call ‘personal diversity’ or ‘total diversity.’ This is thinking about diversity as something we don’t just support and display as a cultural/social ideal, but something we cultivate personally within ourselves on many different levels--by exploring and expanding our own talents, skills, aptitudes, ideas, and choices.” ⁱ
2. “In a profession where Dewey and Ranganathan made major advancements, diversity is a positive fact of life and libraries should do more than just store those noble ideas.” ⁱⁱ
3. “Diversity is the appreciation and respect for the distinct attributes, qualities, skills, histories, and experiences that we bring to a shared experience.” ⁱⁱⁱ
4. Adding diversity to the librarian profession is like adding multiple fruit flavors to a beverage. It lifts every thing up and provides a wonderful flavor in your mouth. The focus is not on one fruit flavor but a whole group of flavors that all bring a unique taste... Diversity helps expand our lives by providing an experience that cannot be measured monetarily.” ^iv
   

ⁱ Lisa Guedea Carreno in Watkins, Christine, “Chapter Report: Across the Spectrum,” American Libraries 30 (8) September 1999: 10.
ⁱⁱ Jim Souce in Watkins, Christine, “A Community Mirror: Reflections on the Color of Librarianship,” American Libraries 30 (10) (November 1999), 66.
ⁱⁱⁱ Sandra Rios Balderrama in “Diversity Officer Says Farewell,” American Libraries 33 (8) (September 2002): 11.
^iv Jamal L. Comity in Spectrum: 1997-2000 Report. Chicago: ALA, [2000], 6.