Tag Archives: diversity

Curious about the library/information studies profession? UC Libraries seeks racially/ethnically under-represented candidates for paid internship.

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library student workersUniversity of Cincinnati Libraries, in cooperation with OhioLINK, is seeking racially/ethnically under-represented candidates interested in an internship with UC Libraries. This position requires a full academic-year commitment (fall, spring and possibly summer semesters) and the ability to work 10-15 hours per week. The internship includes orientation, departmental rotations and working with a mentor. Interns will participate in professional development sessions coordinated throughout the internship.

These paid, resume-building positions offer student interns hands-on experience and a broad introduction to the information studies profession—its purpose, reach and expertise. Students are paired with a mentor to explore and gain valuable knowledge in the field and to develop marketable skills that are extendable to a variety of career disciplines. This program provides experiential learning, valuable training and professional support within a structured work environment. OhioLINK interns around the state will be given the opportunity to network and collaborate via an agreed-upon capstone project, if desired.

To apply for a library internship, complete the online application.

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Participate in the 19-Day Self-Education Challenge Against Systemic Racism

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respect's 19-day self-education challenge against systemic racismWant to learn more about issues pertaining to systemic racism in the United States but don’t know where to start? Inspired by the YWCA’s 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge, the University of Cincinnati Libraries’ R.E.S.P.E.C.T. committee developed a 19-Day Self-Education Challenge Against Systemic Racism just for you! Sign up now to watch, read and listen to informative pieces! The challenge is free and open to all. 

Scheduled to take place July 6-30, the challenge is divided into four weeks, each with a different theme. There will be weekly, open video-chat discussions every Friday. Details will be e-mailed weekly along with the challenge content. 

  • Week 1: Reparations and Narrowing the Wealth Gap 
  • Week 2: Police Brutality and Reform 
  • Week 3: Equity in Healthcare 
  • Week 4: Equity in Education 

Should you agree to accept this challenge, you will learn new information as well as receive an award upon completion of the event for your efforts to learn more about systemic racism and ways to combat it.  

R.E.S.P.E.C.T. (Racial Equity Support & Programming to Educate the Community Team) is a UC Libraries committee charged with developing external programming that explicitly addresses the negative role that systemic racism plays in our society. 

CECH Library Supports Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

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In accordance with the Bearcat Bond and Association of College and Research Libraries Diversity Standards, the CECH Library recognizes the “need and obligation to serve and advocate for racial and ethnically diverse constituencies.” To that end, CECH librarians have led and supported a variety of projects and programs related to anti-racism and diversity, equity, and inclusion this year. Here’s a snapshot of what we’ve been working on.

Anti-Racism LibGuides Audit

  • This fall CECH librarians performed an audit of 16 subject LibGuides in support of the CECH Schools of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services, and Information Technology. After scoring guides with a rubric they created, CECH librarians curated additional resources to add to their subject guides including journals, databases, websites, and multimedia resources with anti-racism themes. Resources were also carefully chosen based on their intended audience – both academics and professionals working in field – as well as their respective purposes, with emphasis on subject-specific and general resources for self-reflection and professional development. Full informatiaon about the project, including our process, rubric, and listing of audited guides is available via our CECH Library Anti-Racism LibGuide Audit guide.

Anti-Racism Community Space

  • In partnership with the CECH Rapid Response Team, CECH Librarian Madeleine Gaiser is serving as the co-organizer of the CECH Anti-Racism Community Space alongside Josie Evans-Phillips, Assistant Dean for Inclusive Excellence and Community Partnerships. The Anti-Racism Community Space (ARCS) hosts monthly discussions in which a CECH faculty or staff give a short presentation followed by lively conversations about the issues raised by the presenter. This space also provides the CECH community a space to process news events, such as the Capitol insurrection in January. The space was started in November as a pilot program and this spring is becoming an official CECH DEI initiative. As co-organizer, Madeleine manages the publicity efforts for each meeting, serves as the event emcee, and coordinates with the presenter and discussion facilitators. She and Josie hope to share this model with other colleges and libraries at UC.

Diversity Research Day Planning

  • Due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions, the annual CECH Diversity Research Day took place virtually on February 24, 2021. CECH Library Head Katie Foran-Mulcahy served on this year’s planning team, creating a special Canvas community to house presentation materials and interactivity with presenters such as asynchronous poster discussion. Videos of live presentations will also be available via this Canvas community. Auto-enrollment into the Canvas community will be available through March 24 for UC students, faculty, and staff.

Interested in partnering with a CECH librarian on projects in support of anti-racism? Reach out to your CECH Librarian to discuss opportunities for collaboration and support.

Introducing the CECH Anti-Racism Community Space

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The CECH Anti-Racism Community Space (ARCS) is devoted to building an inclusive community within our college dedicated to anti-racism. Each month we’ll learn, engage, and listen to one another alongside experts from our community. ARCS is open to all members of the CECH community – students, staff, faculty and alumni — and is co-presented by the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Board and the CECH Library.

Join us via WebEx on Tuesday, November 10 at 3:30 p.m. for our inaugural meeting. Dr. Antar Tichavakunda, Assistant Professor of Education, will lead a discussion on critical race theory.

Join Us for Poetry at a Glance “Black History through Poetry”

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phillis wheatleyIn celebration of Black History Month, UC Libraries is holding an event featuring poetry and poet Phillis Wheatley, the first published African-American poet.

February 22, 2:00 – 3:30pm

462 Langsam Library

At the event, Kevin Grace, head of the Archives and Rare Books Library and university archivist, will present the Phillis Wheatley Poetry Book, part of the library’s rare books collection. Following, there will be poetry readings by UC students, staff and guests. Those in attendance can also enjoy a taste of cultural cuisine. The event is free and open to all.

Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784) is the first African American, and one of the first women, to publish a book of poetry in the colonies in 1773. At the age of eight, she was kidnapped from West Africa, enslaved and sold to a family in Boston where her owner’s wife and children taught her to read and write English, Greek and Latin.  She published her first poem at the age of 12.

A table display featuring African-American poets and poetry is on display on the 4th floor of Langsam. A bibliography of the works on display is available online.

UC Libraries Invites You to Come Together to Give Thanks Nov. 17

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Join the University of Cincinnati Libraries for “Coming Together to Give Thanks: Expanding Horizons on Food and Culture” ~ Thursday, November 17, 3:30-5:30pm, Langsam Library 4th floor.

coming together image

Enjoy food, drink and fun as you play trivia and learn about U.S. Thanksgiving traditions, guess where foods eaten around the world began, write a thank-you note to family and friends, solve the international recipe puzzle and enjoy traditional U.S. Thanksgiving foods.

The event is free and open to all!

UCBA Library Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

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hhmdisplay

The UC Blue Ash Library, in collaboration the Office of Hispanic/Latino Affairs, is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with a library display highlighting Hispanic/Latino books and culture. The books will be on display in the library from September 15, 2016 to October 14, 2016. The items are available for checkout with a valid UC ID. Browse the online guide of suggested reads at http://guides.libraries.uc.edu/ucba-displays/ucba-hhm or stop by!

“Bridging Pride to Knowledge” New Exhibit on Langsam’s 5th Floor

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ExhibitA new exhibit has been installed on the 5th floor lobby of Langsam Library in honor of June being LGBT Pride Month. “Bridging Pride to Knowledge” highlights UC Libraries’ resources (books, journals, DVD’s databases, etc.) in LGBTQ subject areas.  It includes information on the Stonewall Riots of June 1969 and features notable authors such as Edna St. Vincent Millay, Radclyffe Hall, Oscar Wilde and more. A bibliography is available in print at the exhibit and online.

The “Bridging Pride to Knowledge” exhibit was curated by Mikaila Corday and Susan Banoun of UC Libraries. Samantha Scheidler, spring semester communications co-op design student, designed the exhibit. Continue reading →

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Display at UCBA Library

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by Michelle McKinney

AAPIHeritageMonthA selection of books are now on display through April 29th in honor of Asian American and Pacific Island Heritage Month (usually celebrated during the month of May). Stop by the UCBA Library to check them out!

asianpacislandermonth

UC Libraries Reflects on “Celebration of Excellence in Black History” Event

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UC Libraries celebrated Black History Month with a cultural program filled with poetry readings, theater performances and delicious cuisine.

chalkboard_eventThe event was titled “Celebration of Excellence in Black History.” It was part of UC Libraries’ “Bridges to Diversity and Inclusion” initiative. The event was extremely well attended and guests included students, faculty, staff and administrators from across UC.  Here is a multimedia slideshow that features highlights from the event: https://animoto.com/play/VYYiygBRepyAv4wXUj3RwQ

The program started with a presentation on the origins and foundations of Black History Month. Dr. Karen Cudjoe shared inspirational and empowering quotes from Black leaders. Her presentation also featured a mosaic of Black excellence that showed the impact Black people have made in the fields of: education, politics, business, civil rights, athletics, arts and culture.

Afterwards, Don Jason introduced UC Libraries’ Diversity Journaling Initiative. This initiative encourages UC students, faculty and staff to attend diversity programs on campus and write about them. Everyone at the event received a diversity diary.

Next, the event featured poetry readings by Nick Wantsala and Jenny Wright—Black Buttafly. The poetry was a mix of classic poems written by Lewis Latimer and original spoken word poems.

The poetry was followed by a theater performance presented by Donna Davis and Akosua Favors from the Soul Consciousness Theater Group. The performance highlighted the contributions Black inventors have made on society. It gave the audience a glimpse of what daily life would be like if we did not have inventions created by Black people. Meshia Anderson and June Taylor-Slaughter researched all of the inventors mentioned in the theater performance. They compiled their research into two eye-catching display boards that were showcased at the Black History Month event.

The final portion of the program featured presentations from student and community groups. These presentations highlighted the history and mission of each organization. The presentations also talked about the exciting programs and events hosted by the different groups. Here are the organizations that presented:

  • African Students Association
  • Black Graduate and Professional Student Association
  • UC Black Women on the Move
  • UC Graduate Student Consortium for Cultural Diversity in Chemistry
  • Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio – Young Professionals

After the formal program concluded, everyone shared in a delicious soul food meal.

UC Libraries would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of Meshia Anderson, Program Coordinator, program participants and everyone who helped make the event a success.  UC Libraries would also like to extend a special thanks to the UC Provost’s Office for the grant that made this event possible.

The “Celebration of Excellence in Black History” event occurred on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 from 2:30- 4:30 PM in Langsam Library. It was hosted in Room 462, UC Libraries’ new state-of-the-art teaching and learning facility.

Don Jason and Meshia Anderson