Hello everyone! I hope that this email finds you well and that your day thus far is meeting you where you're at and offering you what you need. I'm passing along a survey I hope you can all complete and spread. Denver Public Library (DPL) was recently awarded an IMLS LB21 grant to actualize its aspirational values of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) into concrete actions that demonstrate that commitment. A foundational component of this grant project is that it must have broad impact and facilitate cross-collaboration so that libraries throughout the nation can increase their EDI capacity. As DPL will be convening a national cohort of libraries to co-create and/or vet all tools that can build libraries' capacity to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion. We are looking to recruit and convene a national cohort of 10-15 people serving in EDI roles in their libraries to guide this project. This cohort will be the first of its kind in the United States and will provide support and resources to staff who are working to expand the scholarship around EDI in libraries in the United States. This group will also serve in an advisory capacity for the project and make recommendations about the type of staff training they see as imperative. During their monthly meetings, members of the cohort will benefit by having other people to collaborate with and receive support from while they are doing this vulnerable and difficult work. Because the cohort will be nationally representative, members will be able to provide insight into how local context may affect the effectiveness of various EDI strategies. Together, members of the cohort can understand the scope of the problems and how solutions to those problems play out in different contexts. All of those insights will contribute to the development of a generalizable EDI toolkit with vetted tools that libraries and other cultural institutions can use to apply an EDI lens to every aspect of their operations to transform their culture so all staff and customers feel welcomed, supported, included and valued by staff and each other. The survey can be found through this link<https://surveys.denverlibrary.org/s3/EDI-Library-Leaders-Survey>. This survey<https://surveys.denverlibrary.org/s3/EDI-Library-Leaders-Survey> will close on October 15th. Even if individuals are unable to be a part of the cohort, we are hoping to gather a better sense of the number of people currently in EDI roles and how they are functioning across library systems. If you have any questions, please reach out to Denver Public Library's EDI manager at oaloziem@denverlibrary.org<mailto:oaloziem@denverlibrary.org>. Imagining and working to build a more equitable world, Ozy Aloziem (she/her/hers), MSW Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Manager In the spirit of accountability & healing, I acknowledge and honor the Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Ute Tribes, and all of the original Indigenous peoples of the land upon which Denver Public Library stands. Denver Central Library 10 W. 14th Avenue Parkway / Denver, CO / 80204-2731. T-720.865.1158 / oaloziem@denverlibrary.org <mailto:oaloziem@denverlibrary.org> Cathy Lancaster Youth Services Coordinator Library of Michigan 702 W. Kalamazoo St. Lansing, MI 48915 My Pronouns: She/Her/Hers - See www.mypronouns.org<http://www.mypronouns.org/> to learn more. LancasterC5@michigan.gov<mailto:LancasterC5@michigan.gov> | 517-335-8129 | www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan<http://www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan> Follow us: Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/libraryofmichigan/> | Twitter<https://twitter.com/libraryofmich> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/libraryofmichigan/> Join the MiYouth<https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmail2.mcls.org%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Fmiyouth&data=02%7C01%7CNorrisS2%40michigan.gov%7Caf51448f1e92415533aa08d6f4b53328%7Cd5fb7087377742ad966a892ef47225d1%7C0%7C0%7C636965456410852648&sdata=nModcBWFyzGoDGK%2FtwsSeAXV%2F85AQKEtzzQQj%2FV%2B5fM%3D&reserved=0> Listserv, created for Michigan public library staff to share and discuss children and teen programming and services. Are you a library front line staffer? Join me in becoming an eResources expert by completing the MeL Maven Badge<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmel.org%2F&data=04%7C01%7CLancasterC5%40michigan.gov%7Cc974b25882b743cac56208d97d06cfc5%7Cd5fb7087377742ad966a892ef47225d1%7C0%7C0%7C637678290467528308%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=sy7WTGMoKLlfEwmtgehF%2BeuZWbTCi9Yxo08BllxAd48%3D&reserved=0>! [cid:image001.png@01D7AEDA.F2D15E70] [cid:image002.png@01D7AEDA.F2D15E70]
