Tag Archives: diversity

The 10-Minute Library Advocate #91: Think how you can promote cultural diversity

Through providing access to information, libraries have a key role in opening eyes and broadening horizons.

In schools, they can complement classroom work by promoting wider reading. In universities, they make it possible for students to build up a deeper, wider idea of the state of knowledge in their fields. Beyond, they enable people to discover – and even escape to – new worlds.

Crucially, they have a key potential role in helping readers explore and enjoy the diversity of their communities, their countries, and the world as a whole.

This of course doesn’t just stop at information itself, but also the activities and opportunities that can be built on top of this, using spaces and staff support.

Importantly, there is the possibility to make people aware of perspectives and experiences that they may not have thought of, and to celebrate this diversity.

Through this, libraries can help achieve the goals of the International Day of Cultural Diversity, marked last Saturday!

So for our 91st 10-Minute International Librarian exercise, think how you can promote cultural diversity.

How can you best work with those bringing these different perspectives and experiences in order to share these?

What ideas do you have for giving users the opportunity to try something different, stepping outside of what they know and embracing difference?

How can you present this as a positive, as something that brings benefits to individuals and groups alike?

To start, there are lots of great ideas in IFLA’s Multicultural Library Manifesto, and its accompanying toolkit. You can also take a look at our blog for the International Day of Cultural Diversity, which explores indicators of the impact of diversity on development!

Let us know your ideas in the comments below.

Good luck!

 

This idea relates to the IFLA Strategy! Key Initiative 2.3: Develop standards, guidelines, and other materials that foster best professional practice 

As we publish more ideas, you will be able to view these using the #10MinuteInternationalLibrarian tag on this blog, and of course on IFLA’s Ideas Store! Do also share your ideas in the comments box below!

The 10-Minute International Librarian #39: Seek diverse viewpoints

IFLA works to build a strong and united global library field.

But this doesn’t mean that it should be uniform. We benefit hugely from our diversity, and all the different experiences and perspectives this brings.

It allows us not only to find new solutions to existing problems, but also to identify areas for action that we might not have been aware of previously.

By doing this, we can improve our ability to power literate, informed and participatory societies.

There is some great work already taking place both at the national level, and within IFLA, notably in the Section on Libraries Serving Multicultural Populations.

This helps us both to think about how libraries themselves can serve diverse user groups, and how we can build diversity within our own profession.

So for our 39th 10-Minute International Librarian Exercise, seek diverse viewpoints.

Identify a key processes or decision points, and think about how you could ensure you are open to this.

Who could offer you new ideas, but is not currently being heard? What is holding them back? What can you do about it?

Think about the way you are seeking ideas, and how you can make additional steps where needed.

Of course, putting your ideas into action will take more than 10 minutes. It will be a learning process. But it is important to start!

There are lots of resources out there on how to do this better – share your suggestions below.

Good luck!

 

This idea relates to the IFLA Strategy! 4.3 Increase, diversify and engage our membership.

As we publish more ideas, you will be able to view these using the #10MinuteInternationalLibrarian tag on this blog, and of course on IFLA’s Ideas Store! Do also share your ideas in the comments box.