[Libs-Or] DEI in Oregon Libraries Monthly Update

Mon Jan 6 09:57:29 PST 2025

Greetings Oregon library community,
Happy new year! I am so excited to be reaching out in my position as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Consultant for the Library Support Division of the State Library of Oregon. This position would not exist without the tireless championing from all of you, so thank you all for pushing for equitable, diverse, inclusive and welcoming libraries in our state!

The first six months in this role has allowed me the sincere pleasure of meeting with some of you already, and I am looking forward to expanding this reach further over the next year and beyond. My current priority is to listen, observe and learn what barriers libraries and library staff across the state are facing, and to identify areas where support is most needed. I am also focused on compiling and sharing resources to help move us forward in this work, and plan to be launching a LibGuide soon that will link people to articles, trainings, best practices, and more.

This is the first of a monthly email that I will be sending out with upcoming events, learning opportunities, and suggestions for continued growth around diversity, equity, and inclusion. I also want to use this as an opportunity to highlight some of the amazing work Oregon libraries are already doing to create a sense of belonging in their spaces and services. For example, Estacada Public Library’s Thursday Night Book Club<https://www.facebook.com/estacadapubliclibrary/posts/pfbid0VVwKXgQY8YCNLQ8g3u54m6TsQNfvKJDjWEiFpXN3fxegebzyncgJpf3W5wbjYE39l> reads books that ‘center the LGBTQIA+ experience’, and Happy Valley Library is partnering with Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette to offer citizenship classes<https://happyvalleyor.libcal.com/event/13650026>. We see your efforts, and your communities do, too!

I welcome feedback on the resources provided in this and subsequent emails, to include what is missing and what could be expanded on further.

New Virtual Meetups:
DEI Virtual Meetup for Oregon Libraries
For anyone engaged in diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging work in Oregon libraries
Wednesday, January 8, 2025, 3:30-4:30p
Meetup Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81502980247?pwd=fpyomcb21US548fuDgTaavCoo6dlIt.1

BIPOC Virtual Affinity Meetup
For Black, Indigenous, and other people of color employed, volunteering, or looking for work in Oregon libraries
Tuesday, January 28th, noon-1p
Meeting details and link can be found here<https://www.cognitoforms.com/StateLibraryOfOregon/BIPOCAffinityMeetup>

Online Learning Opportunities:
Free:

  *
Public Libraries Standing Up and Standing Together<https://www.ala.org/pla/education/onlinelearning/webinars/standing-up> (Public Library Association-ALA)
Virtual Town Hall | Tuesday, January 14, 2025, 12:00p

  *
Designing Inclusive Surveys for Effective Fundraising<https://www.nonprofitlearninglab.org/webinars> (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
Online Workshop | Wednesday, January 22, 2025, 9:00a

  *
Practicing Inclusion: Welcoming Transgender Customers and Colleagues<https://vimeo.com/759521079> (Infopeople)
Archived Webinar | Recorded October 2022

  *
Addressing Body Shape and Size Stigma in Libraries: Getting Started<https://vimeo.com/946761683?share=copy> (Infopeople)
Archived Webinar | Recorded May 2024

Find additional free training events on the State Library of Oregon’s Continuing Education Calendar<https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/conted/free#s-lib-ctab-24120710-1>

Fee-based $:

  *
Tools and Techniques for Promoting Early Literacy in BIPOC Communities<https://elearning.ala.org/local/catalog/view/product.php?productid=1097> (ALAeLearning/ALSC)<https://elearning.ala.org/catalog/>
6-week online course | February 3-March 16, 2025, 10:00a

  *
Improving Accessibility Through Document Remediation<https://www.amigos.org/services/continuing-education/improving-accessibility-through-document-remediation> (Amigos Library Services<https://www.amigos.org/>)
Online session | February 5, 2025, 1:00p

  *
Trauma-Informed and Relational Care for Libraries<https://my.marvelouspages.com/nisha-mody/trauma-informed-and-relational-care-for-libraries> (Facilitated by Nisha Mody)
Self-Paced Training | Institutional pricing available

Independent Exploration:
Read
Article(s)- What Neurodivergent Patrons Want from Small and Rural Libraries<https://programminglibrarian.org/articles/what-neurodivergent-patrons-want-small-and-rural-libraries> <https://programminglibrarian.org/articles/what-neurodivergent-patrons-want-small-and-rural-libraries>  and, Putting “Nothing About Us Without Us” into Practice in Small and Rural Libraries<https://programminglibrarian.org/articles/putting-nothing-about-us-without-us-practice-small-and-rural-libraries> by Knology<https://knology.org/>

Watch
  African American Policy Forum-Books Unbanned (TM) Author Talk featuring Nikole Hannah-Jones<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB5eAjW7Tq8> , 22 min
“We are the Wo Wakan, Two Spirit of our people.”<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lfEo7c66Eg> StoryCorps, < 3 min

Listen

  *   OVERDUE: Weeding Out Oppression in Libraries (a podcast produced by the OLA EDI & Antiracism Committee)-S3, E9: We STILL Need Diverse Books<https://www.buzzsprout.com/1948067/episodes/16336850>, 56 min

Reflect

  *   January is National Braille Literacy Month<https://nib.org/press/13407/>. Explore resources provided by the State Library of Oregon’s Talking Books & Braille Library<https://www.oregon.gov/Library/print-disabilities/Pages/default.aspx>, and by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled<https://www.loc.gov/nls/services-and-resources/informational-publications/braille-literacy-for-children-teens-and-adults/>
  *   Martin Luther King Jr. Day<https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/15-year-battle-martin-luther-king-jr-day> - January 20, 2025
  *   National Day of Racial Healing<https://dayofracialhealing.org/>- January 21, 2025
  *   Lunar New Year<https://asia.si.edu/whats-on/events/celebrations/lunar-new-year-celebration/>- Begins on January 29, 2025

Please text, call, or email with questions, support needs, and/or to schedule time to chat. I look forward to connecting and being a resource for Oregon libraries and the communities you serve!

In Solidarity,

Ericka Brunson-Rochette (she/her/hers)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Consultant

State Library of Oregon

ericka.brunson-rochette at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:ericka.brunson-rochette at slo.oregon.gov>| 971-375-5126
www.oregon.gov/library/libraries<http://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries>

[Logo for the Library Support & Development Services division at the State Library of Oregon]<http://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries>

Work Schedule: Monday-Thursday

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