ALA Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

ALA Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Name	ALA Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Formation	2019
Type	Task force
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois
Parent organization	American Library Association

ALA Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion is a committee convened by the American Library Association to assess and advance policies related to equity, diversity, and inclusion across librarianship. The task force has engaged with professional bodies, advocacy groups, and academic institutions to produce analyses, recommendations, and training resources. It operates amid debates involving major cultural institutions, standards bodies, and civil rights organizations.

Background and Establishment

The task force was created following deliberations at the American Library Association Annual Conference and policy discussions influenced by advocacy from groups such as the Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services, the Association of College and Research Libraries, and the ALA Council. Calls for its formation referenced precedents including the Joint Conference of Librarians of Color, reports from the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, and initiatives by the Freedom to Read Foundation and the Library Bill of Rights proponents. Conversations at venues like the Chicago Public Library and universities including Columbia University, University of California, Berkeley, and Howard University shaped the task force’s charter.

Mandate and Objectives

The task force's mandate encompassed reviewing ALA policies, recommending training and recruitment strategies, and advising on collections and services relevant to underrepresented communities. Its objectives referenced standards and frameworks from bodies such as the American Library Trustees Association, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, and the National Coalition Against Censorship. The scope included examining links with legal instruments like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and programs promoted by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and aligning guidance with ethical statements from the Association of Research Libraries and the Public Library Association.

Structure and Membership

Membership combined appointed and volunteer representatives from divisions and round tables within the American Library Association, including liaisons from the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table, the Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table, and the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. Appointments drew professionals affiliated with institutions such as the Hampton University, New York Public Library, Library of Congress, and academic programs at Syracuse University School of Information Studies and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Advisory participants included representatives from the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Smithsonian Institution, and nonprofit advocates like Common Cause.

Key Initiatives and Activities

The task force organized listening sessions, webinars, and training modules featuring partners such as the American Association of School Librarians, the Special Libraries Association, and the National Education Association. Initiatives included audits of hiring practices, collaborations with certification entities like the State Library Agencies, and programs addressing collection development with publishers including Penguin Random House and HarperCollins. It coordinated events modeled after symposia at the Library of Congress and engaged in partnerships with civil rights organizations including the NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union. International exchanges referenced practices from the British Library and the Canada Council for the Arts.

Reports and Recommendations

The task force issued reports recommending policy amendments, diversity metrics, and continuing education curricula. Findings drew on methodologies used by the Pew Research Center, case studies from the New York Public Library, and accreditation standards considered by the Council on Accreditation of Library and Information Science Education. Recommendations included suggested revisions to the ALA Code of Ethics, guidance for trustees following models from the American Association of School Administrators, and proposed partnerships with organizations such as the Center for American Progress to expand outreach.

Reception and Impact within the Library Community

Reactions varied across chapters, divisions, and institutional stakeholders including the Public Library Association and academic librarians at Rutgers University, University of Michigan, and University of Washington. Several library systems adopted training modules and revised recruitment language inspired by the task force, prompting endorsements from groups like the Association of College and Research Libraries and the National Coalition for Literacy. Conferences including the ALA Annual Conference and regional gatherings reported programming increases addressing diversity, while library schools incorporated elements into syllabi influenced by faculty at Syracuse University and University of Pittsburgh.

Criticisms and Controversies

Critiques arose from various quarters including elected members of the ALA Council, library trustees, and external commentators at outlets such as The New York Times and National Public Radio who debated scope and implementation. Some critics argued recommendations risked politicizing hiring and collections, citing tensions similar to disputes involving the Freedom to Read Foundation and controversies around displays at the San Francisco Public Library and policy debates in municipal systems like the Los Angeles Public Library. Defenders cited precedents from professional standards by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions and legal frameworks such as decisions influenced by the U.S. Supreme Court as justification for the task force’s approach.

Category:American Library Association Category:Library and information science organizations