FYI ________________________________ From: Don Wood <dwood@ala.org> Sent: Wednesday, July 8, 2015 12:00 PM Subject: ALA Task Force on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion: Survey on ALA Conferences The ALA Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion was created in the spring of 2014 by then ALA President Barbara Stripling. Before moving forward with programs, actions, or recommendations, the members of the Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion believe it is important to understand the culture of the association, the profession, and our communities with respect to equity, diversity and inclusion. These short surveys are an opportunity to include input and ideas from the professional community while complementing the rich data collection efforts of the larger association. The Task Force recognizes that incidents of racial bias and injustice continue to occur across the country on a regular basis. This survey, however, focuses on planned attendance in Orlando (the location that prompted the creation of the Task Force), but that will have implications for future ALA conference locations. This survey is brief and intended to gather information based on your thoughts regarding conference locations as well as to follow up on responses from the first survey. The survey can be accessed at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/tfedi2. Responses will be collected through Aug. 15, 2015. ALA members and nonmembers are encouraged to participate. Please take a few minutes to answer the survey, which should take no more than seven minutes to complete. "Embracing and celebrating diversity and creating a more inclusive profession have been long-standing goals of the American Library Association. With your help, we hope to ensure these values are upheld," said Task Force co-Chairs Trevor A. Dawes and Martin L. Garnar. The ALA Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion's charge is to develop a plan and strategic actions to build more equity, diversity and inclusion among our members, the field of librarianship and our communities. The most important Task Force outcome is the public and honest conversation that generated by its plan and recommended actions. The final Task Force report will include recommendations for ensuring that a continuing focus on equity, diversity and inclusion is embedded throughout the ALA organization. Don Wood Program Officer Chapter Relations Office<http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/cro/index.cfm> American Library Association 50 East Huron Street Chicago, IL 60611 dwood@ala.org<mailto:dwood@ala.org> 1-800-545-2433, ext. 2429; 312-280-2429 312-280-4392 (fax) Become a Fan of ALA Chapters<https://www.facebook.com/ALAChapters> Follow CRO on Twitter<http://twitter.com/ALA_CRO> Take Action for America's Libraries<http://cqrcengage.com/ala/home> "Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing."-Albert Schweitzer