ACRL, the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the American Library Association’s Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services (ODLOS), and the Public Library Association (PLA) announce the formation of the Building Cultural Proficiencies for Racial Equity Framework Task Force.
The task force is charged to create a framework for cultural proficiencies in racial equity that can be used in public and academic libraries through:
- Scanning the environment, including review of relevant documents (e.g., ACRL Diversity Standards: Cultural Competency for Academic Libraries) to identify literature and similar statements and frameworks related to racial equity;
- Drafting the framework;
- Seeking comment from stakeholders and the library community on the draft, and revising as needed.
The task force includes the following members:
- Jennifer Garrett (co-convener), Director, Talent Management, NC State University Libraries
- Marcela Y. Isuster (co-convener), Liaison Librarian, McGill University
- Tatiana Bryant, Assistant Professor, Engagement and Inclusion Librarian, Adelphi University
- Kristyn Caragher, Assistant Professor & Reference and Liaison Librarian (STEM), University of Illinois at Chicago
- Jay Dela Cruz, Library Manager, Queens Public Library
- Andrew Harbison, Assistant Director – Collections & Access, The Seattle Public Library
- Beatriz Hardy, Dean of Libraries and Instructional Resources, Salisbury University
- Lars Klint, Acquisitions Manager, Harvard Library
- John Edward Martin, Scholarly Communication Librarian, University of North Texas Libraries
- Pamela McCarter, Equity Initiative Leader, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
- Teresa Helena Moreno, Librarian and Undergraduate Engagement Program Coordinator, University of Illinois, Richard J. Daley Library
- Cecilia Salvatore, Professor, Dominican University/School of Information Studies
The task force will be facilitated by Dr. Katherine Skinner, Executive Director, Educopia Institute, and will have the expertise of Kristin Lahurd, ODLOS Interim Director; Mark A. Puente, ARL Senior Director of Diversity and Leadership Programs, with support from Scott Allen PLA Deputy Director, Operations; Allison Payne, ACRL Program Manager for Strategic Initiatives; and Gwendolyn Prellwitz, ODLOS Assistant Director for Recruitment and Retention.
The task force will circulate drafts of the framework for public comment and revise as appropriate before submitting a final document to the associations. Requests for comments will be communicated widely through each of the four associations’ communication channels. The timeline will include requests for comments in spring 2021, with the final document expected in summer 2021.