<div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)">Dear colleagues,</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)">If you haven’t already taken this survey from the ALA Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, you have until March 18<sup>th</sup> to complete it. You do not need to be a member of ALA to take the survey.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)">[Note: the initial technical issues have been resolved, so if that deterred you from taking the survey, please try again.]</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)">The
ALA Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion was created in the
spring of 2014 by then ALA President, Barbara Stripling. The Task Force
is currently in the information-gathering phase. To aid with
information gathering, it has launched a series of short surveys to be
conducted at times to coincide wi<span><span>th the ALA Mid</span></span>winter
Meetings and Annual Conferences through 2016. These surveys are
designed to help understand the culture of the association, the
profession, and our communities with respect to equity, diversity, and
inclusion.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)">We
recognize that incidents of racial, gender, disability and many other
biases and injustices continue to occur across the country on a regular
basis. This third survey, however, focuses on the economic
implications of participating in ALA functions.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">The survey can be accessed at <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TEDI3" target="_blank">https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TEDI3</a> . Responses will be collected through <b>March 18, 2016</b>. ALA members and non-members are encouraged to participate.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)">Please
take a few minutes to answer the survey, which should take no more than
7 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.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)">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 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.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)">Questions about the survey can be sent to the Task Force at<a href="mailto:diversity@ala.org" target="_blank">diversity@ala.org</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)">Should technical issues arise, please contact the ALA Office for Research and Statistics at <a href="mailto:ors@ala.org" target="_blank">ors@ala.org</a> or call <a href="tel:1%20%28800%29%20545-2433" target="_blank">1 (800) 545-2433</a>. ext. 4273.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px">Respectfully, </span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px">Max Macias </span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px"><br></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px"><span class="">REFORMA</span> Representative to the ALA President's Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.</span><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px"><br></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px"><br></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p></div>