| Part 1: Tuesday, April 27, 2021, 2-4PM ET Session 1 | 2:00-2:45PM ET Collection Management and Readers’ Advisory Strategies to Enact Change at Your Library
Being aware of a lack of diversity in your library collections and having the intention to make a change is important, but having a plan of action to address these problems is where the magic happens. In this conversation between Robin Bradford and Becky Spratford, you’ll learn concrete strategies for making lasting change in your approach to collection development and readers’ advisory, ensuring your library’s collections and suggestions are diverse and inclusive.
Speakers:
Robin Bradford, Collection Development Librarian, Pierce County Library System (WA)
Becky Spratford, Readers’ Advisory Specialist Intermission | 2:45-3:00PM ET Session 2 | 3:00-3:45PM ET
Conducting a Diversity Audit of Your Collections
In this session, we’ll discuss both the process of conducting a diversity audit and what comes next after you’ve successfully audited your collection. You’ll learn how to plan a diversity audit, which salient data points should be included, how to gather the requisite information, how to set goals to address gaps, and how to make diversity and inclusion natural parts of collection management and promotion. You’ll also come away with an understanding of what to do with your data once you have it, how to create a plan of implementation, and where to go next.
Speaker: To be announced soon Part 2: Tuesday, May 4, 2021, 2–4:15PM ET Stereotypes, Tropes, and Cultural Appropriation: A Collection Development Deep Dive
Some common stereotypes in books and media are easy to spot—others require a more fine-tuned understanding of culture and history. In this series of enlightening sessions, you will learn how to spot problematic stereotypes and tropes and how to avoid unintentionally perpetuating such depictions. You will hear from several experts in the field about the ways that specific marginalized cultures—Native American, Asian American, African American, and LGBTQIA+—are portrayed in mainstream media, their cultural traditions misunderstood or misrepresented, and their stories appropriated by cultural outsiders. You’ll walk away with the knowledge you need to build a more representative, inclusive collection at your library or institution. Session 1 | 2:00-2:30PM ET
Speaker: Jennifer Baker, Writer, Editor, Advocate, and Founder, Minorities in Publishing podcast Session 2 | 2:30-3:00PM ET
Speaker: Ariana Hussain, Teacher Librarian, Co-Founder, Hijabi Librarians Intermission | 3:00-3:15PM ET Session 3 | 3:15-3:45PM ET
Speaker: Anna Clutterbuck-Cook, Reference Librarian, Massachusetts Historical Society Session 4 | 3:45-4:15PM ET
Speaker: Kara Stewart, Author, Teacher, Literacy Specialist Part 3: Tuesday, May 11, 2021, 2-4PM ET Session 1 | 2:00-2:30PM ET
Stereotypes, Tropes, and Cultural Appropriation: A Collection Development Deep Dive
Some common stereotypes in books and media are easy to spot—others require a more fine-tuned understanding of culture and history. In this series of enlightening sessions, you will learn how to spot problematic stereotypes and tropes and how to avoid unintentionally perpetuating such depictions. You will hear from several experts in the field about the ways that specific marginalized cultures—Native American, Asian American, African American, and LGBTQIA+—are portrayed in mainstream media, their cultural traditions misunderstood or misrepresented, and their stories appropriated by cultural outsiders. You’ll walk away with the knowledge you need to build a more representative, inclusive collection at your library or institution.
Speaker: Sarah Park Dahlen, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Master of Library and Information Science Program, St. Catherine University (MN) Session 2 | 2:30-3:15PM ET
Librarianship During a Racial Reckoning
How do our personal identities impact the culture of our libraries? A truly inclusive library culture begins, first, with ourselves and considering how our blindspots can impact what our library spaces become. Creating libraries that reflect, and are safe for, BIPOC children and youth, is an active, ongoing practice requiring intent and unflagging effort. In this closing keynote, Dr. Kim Parker will help you think through how you can create an environment that is liberatory and reflective of diverse populations.
Speaker: Dr. Kimberly N. Parker, Assistant Director, Teacher Training Center, Shady Hill School, Cambridge (MA) Intermission | 3:15-3:30PM ET Session 2 | 3:30-4:15PM ET
Workshop Your Equity Audit
In this closing session of our speaker program, you’ll have an opportunity to ask your most pressing questions about your equity audit to an expert, ensuring that you are ready to enact change at your library or school right away. You’ll come away with concrete ideas to apply to your library
Speaker: To be announced soon All sessions will be available to you “on-demand” following the initial broadcast. | 
