Diversifying Diversity in Illinois Libraries

The Illinois State Library's Diversity Program, a division of the Library Development Group, was created in 2003 to assist the Illinois library community in developing cultural and minority diversity initiatives. The Diversity program has developed a number of avenues for exploring cultural diasporas through library technology, the Internet, resources and programs.

For additional information on this program see the Diversity Fact Sheet.

Basic competency programs and training offered by the Diversity Program:

• Diversity @ the Library
• Diversity Cafe: The Eye Exam
• Empowering Library Staff to meet the needs of Spanish Speakers
• How to Make a Dynamic and Diverse Speech
• Human Rights Video/DVD Project
• "I Am an American" Program model
• Lost Boys of Sudan Screening and Taste of the Sudan

Exhibits offered for display:

• African-American History Month Poster Collection
• Alaskan Natives and Native Americans Heritage Collection
• Brown vs. Board of Education
• Hispanic Heritage Month Posters
• Irish Heritage Month and Famous Irish Personalities Posters
• Women Heritage Month Posters
• Coming Soon: "Gwendolyn Brooks: Illinois Poet Laureate" exhibit

Speaker resource:

• List of minority librarians and Diversity Directory

The Diversity Program also provides about 15-20 exhibits yearly at the Illinois State Library that focus on multicultural heritage. Some of the exhibits from the past have included:

• 350 Years of Jewish Life in American Poster Display and Heritage Program
• Katrina Art Display by Norman Calmese, Illinois artist
• Images of Contemporary African-American Artists Exhibit

For additional information on any of this training or resources contact Vandella Brown, Diversity Program Manager.