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

• "A Spectrum Scholar has energy-the universal kind that lights up our worlds, that gives us strength, and tolerance, and hope." ⁱ
• "Being a part of the [Spectrum Initiative] program helped me develop confidence and encouraged me to excel. The Spectrum Initiative expanded my understanding of diversity and made me more aware of the importance of building diverse library environments—that it takes a lot of work to ensure that we fully serve and represent our patrons." ⁱⁱ
• "As an African-American woman, my presence and work adds another face, voice, and story that will not go untold." ⁱⁱⁱ
• "[The Spectrum Leadership Institute] made me conscious of the responsibility and opportunity I have as a person of color to lead, inform, and inspire others by valuing diversity. What I have taken from the institute has impacted me so much that I feel I will have an ability to move and awaken others." ^iv
• "The support I received from the fellowship of Spectrum scholars has encouraged me to continue in my pursuit and to work harder to meet my goals, both academically and professionally." ^v
• "A new era of librarianship has indeed begun, as more than 200 new Spectrum faces can attest." ^vi
• "It is important in this election, in assuring the future, to continue to address the fact that we do not have as much representation in our profession as we need, and that there are so many measures that we can take and continue to take beyond the Spectrum Initiative, beyond what is currently available, to make sure that, for instance, underrepresented groups are not just listened to but actually have a role in decision-making and are a real part of this organization." ^vii
• "The [Spectrum] institute provides a comfort zone that allowed many of us to share our concerns and ideas without worrying that we might be judged." ^viii
• "Spectrum is not just about the money. It's a link of extraordinary value, not just to me, but to everyone in the profession, I think. Its let me know that other people of color have a space in this field, that we belong... Learning to be a librarian isn't just about the pedagogy. It's learning about activism, advocacy, and awareness." ^ix
• "Being a Spectrum Scholar helped solidify my vocation and my direction in life." ^x
• "I believe that the most valuable tool that I have acquired through this experience is networking. I have met many librarians that inspire me to be the best I can be—the word mediocre does not exist in my mind." ^xi
• "With Spectrum's teaching and guidance learned at the Spectrum Institute, I can now proceed in accepting challenges with little or no fear, but rather with a renewed courage for handling these obstacles." ^xii
• "The Spectrum Institute was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. This is something that must definitely continue. I left not only with a deeper, more confident sense of what I wanted to do with my career, but also was instilled with an incredible sense of pride and joy that I had literally stumbled into this fascinating and exciting profession." ^xiii

ⁱ Elizabeth Martinez in Escobar, Hector, "Four Years of Progress: The Spectrum Initiative Leads On," American Libraries 33 (7) (August 2002), 16.
ⁱⁱ Maria Carpenter Hudson in Escobar, Hector, "Four Years of Progress: The Spectrum Initiative Leads On," American Libraries 33 (7) (August 2002), 17.
ⁱⁱⁱ Allison Sutton in Escobar, Hector, "Four Years of Progress: The Spectrum Initiative Leads On," American Libraries 33 (7) (August 2002), 17.
^iv Monica Lopez in Escobar, Hector, "Four Years of Progress: The Spectrum Initiative Leads On," American Libraries 33 (7) (August 2002), 17.
^v Nance Espinosa in Escobar, Hector, "Four Years of Progress: The Spectrum Initiative Leads On," American Libraries 33 (7) (August 2002), 17.
^vi Escobar, Hector, Jr., "Four Years of Progress: The Spectrum Initiative Leads On," American Libraries 33 (7) (August 2002), 17.
^vii Carla Hayden in "Presidential Candidates Square Off at Midwinter Forum," American Libraries 33 (3) (March 2002), 70.
^viii Teresa Madrigal in Escobar, Hector, Jr., "The Color of Leadership: Spectrum Institute 2001," 32 (7) American Libraries (April 2001), 10.
^xi Tracie Hall in "Can Librarians Play Basketball?" American Libraries 30 (3) (March 1999), 59.
^x Jamal L. Cromity in American Library Association. Spectrum: 1997-2000 Report. Chicago: ALA, [2001], 6.
^xi Terry Carlson in American Library Association. Spectrum: 1997-2000 Report. Chicago: ALA, [2001], 6.
^xii Hector Escobar, Jr. in American Library Association. Spectrum: 1997-2000 Report. Chicago: ALA, [2001], 7.
^xiii Vivien E. Zazzau in American Library Association. Spectrum: 1997-2000 Report. Chicago: ALA, [2001], 9.