Library staff and administrators from across the area participated in the “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Strategies for Enhancing our Library Cultures” workshop, held Feb. 9-10 via Zoom.
The event was sponsored by Tri-College University, Minitex, ODIN and the Northern Lights Library Network. A total of 265 participants registered for the workshop, with about 29 NDSU personnel taking part.
“Participants gained broad tools to develop personal strategies to advance diversity, equity and inclusion goals in their professional lives and within their respective library organizations,” said Joe Mocnik, NDSU dean of libraries.
“The goal was to recognize the power imbalances that lead to inequitable access to information and marginalized voices, to acknowledge the lived experiences of all members of our communities and affirm that we are committed to defending intellectual freedom, oppose censorship and uphold free and open exchange of ideas, viewpoints and information,” he said.
According to Mocnik, the group was introduced to the importance of precise terminology to avoid misgendering that occurs when one unintentionally refers to a person in a way that does not align with their affirmed gender.
“Here at NDSU, as a land-grant institution, we serve geographically and culturally diverse populations and we commit to making library spaces accessible and inclusive to all,” Mocnik said. “Each participant has been exposed to a shared responsibility for creating a safer, more inclusive environment and invite accountability where and when we fall short of these goals.”
The workshop’s primary speaker was Anne Phibbs, founder and president of Strategic Diversity Initiatives, who discussed the historical and institutional inequalities that hinder equity in the workplace. Participants learned to identify and break down barriers and challenges that impede a library’s communication, both internal and external.
Members of Tri-College University include NDSU, Concordia College, Minnesota State University Moorhead, M State Moorhead and North Dakota State College of Science.
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