ACRL College & Research Libraries News

Association of College & Research Libraries

Racial & Ethnic Diversity: Information on exchange

Susana Hinojosa Susana Hinojosa, University of California, Berkeley, is chair of the ACRL Racial and Ethnic Diversity Committee

ALA Midwinter com- mittee update

The committee decided dur- ing its ACRL conference pro- gram planning meetings that, unfortunately, it could not go ahead and present its program in Salt Lake City. Be- low is the text of the letter sent to the ACRL Board of Direc- tors on January 26, 1992.

“With deep regret, the ACRL Racial and Ethnic Di- versity Committee has unanimously decided to not present a pro- gram at the 1992 ACRL Conference. This de- cision came after a great deal of debate, soul searching, and consideration over the broad issues of race, ethnic diversity, and women’s rights. Utah’s well recognized stance against abortion and its failure to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment were painful reminders that women do not have the same rights as men.

“This committee was founded on the principles of equal rights for all people regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation; therefore, we cannot in good conscience present a program in Utah. The committee’s decision was particularly difficult because of its respect for and appreciation of the work of Dr. Joseph Boissé, ACRL Conference chair. This decision in no way reflects on his significant efforts on behalf of ethnic and cultural diversity, but instead speaks to a Board decision the committee finds inappropriate. With the withdrawal of many of our speakers and attendees, the committee was forced to reconsider the pro- gram and after discussion, with- draw from the conference. We intend to present this program at the 1992 Conference in San Francisco.

“We would like to thank ACRL for giving us a forum to present our views and we will continue working on our goals and projects within the scope of ACRL.”

Diversity part of ISU personnel training documents

The Indiana State University Libraries currently use statements on cultural diversity in three library documents: the Staff Handbook, the Student Assistants Manual, and New Employee Orientation. There is some overlap in the documents which include the text of the ISU Institutional Statement on Human Relations. In addition, the library has revamped its general library orientation sessions for all student employees. The one-hour sessions now include information on diversity, a reading of the ISU diversity statement, and a showing of the video Still Burning; Ethnoviolence on Campus (21 minutes). For information contact: Marsha Miller, Instruction Librarian, Cunningham Memorial Library, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809; fax (812) 237-2567; libmiMindst.bitnet.

Exhibit on Chicano/Latino Studies at UC-Irvine

The University of California, Irvine, campus recently hosted a display of Chicano/Latino Studies research works by UC Irvine faculty. Eighteen faculty members were represented in this exhibit held from November 1991-Febru- ary 1992. Major topic areas covered by the exhibit were: education, folklore, history, immigration and border studies, literary analysis, and novel writing. For information contact: Angela Yang, Multicultural Services Librarian, Reference Dept. at (714) 856-7021; fax (714) 856-5740; bitnet:Amyang@orion.cf.uci.edu.