ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries


July/August 1991 / 447

Racial and ethnic diversity: Information exchange

B y  S u s a n a  H in o jo s a

Chair, ACRL Racial and Ethnic Diversity Committee

• Has your Library developed or taken part in 
programs that promote cultural awareness? We 
are particularly interested in receiving information 
about programs that would serve as good role 
models for libraries now interested in participation 
in such training. A subcommittee of the ACRL 
Racial and Ethnic Diversity Committee has been 
working since ALA Midwinter on gathering infor­
mation on multicultural awareness training pro­
grams taking place in libraries. The co-chairs of this 
subcommittee, Kriza Jennings (United Theological 
Seminary) and Vivian Sykes (UC Santa Cruz), have 
gathered an impressive amount of material but 
would appreciate information about programs that 
are now in the planning stages or that are consid­
ered excellent models. The goal is to enable the 
committee to develop initiatives, recommenda­
tions, and training models of use to libraries. Infor­
mation can be sent to: Vivian Sykes, McHenry 
Library, UC Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 by 
July 31; after August 1, send material to: Vivian 
Sykes, c/o Library Director’s Office, Library, Uni­
versity of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1205.

• REFORMA has passed a Resolution Re­
garding the Observance of the Arrival of Columbus 
in the Western Hemisphere. It calls attention to the 
fact that Columbus’s arrival was also the beginning 
of the end for many native cultures and that there 
was brutal exploitation. REFORMA feels that 
there should be balanced attention to Columbus. 
We have noticed that many libraries are gearing up 
for celebrations focusing only on the popular “sani­
tized” account of Columbus’s arrival. For a copy of 
the resolution contact: Ron Rodriguez, President, 
REFORMA, Chicano Research Center, P.O. Box 
34080, University Library, CSU Fullerton, Fuller­
ton, CA 92634 or call 714-773-2537.

• REFORMA has contributed a position 
paper on cultural diversity integration into library 
schools’ curriculums (authored by Ron Rodriguez 
of REFORMA and Albert Milo of Fullerton (CA) 
Public Library) to the ALISE Special Committee 
on Ethnic, Multicultural, and Humanities Con­
cerns. Future plans for this ALISE committee

include the possibility of a workshop on this topic at 
the 1992 ALISE Annual Conference. Copies of this 
position paper are available from Ron at the above 
address.

• The Annual Medical Library Association 
Conference, held in San Francisco, June 1-6, 
1991, featured a session called “Cultural Diversity 
Issues in Librarianship” presented by the MLA 
Relevant Issues Section and the Medical Library 
Education Section (sponsored by Rittenhouse 
Book Distributors, Inc.). Papers were presented on 
the following topics: “Education and Diversity” by 
Gwendolyn S. Cruzat (SLIS, University of Michi­
gan); “Modem Racism and Building Multiracial 
and Multicultural Environments” by Edith Fisher 
(president, TENGE Enterprises); “Recruitment 
and Advancement of Minority Librarians” by 
Susana Hinojosa (UC Berkeley); and “Diversity: Its 
Impact on the Development of Library Services” 
by Janice Koyama (UC Berkeley). The session was 
taped. For further information contact: Judy Bube, 
Program Chair, MLA Relevant Issues Section, 
Biomedical Library, UC Irvine, Irvine, CA 92717.

Note: Items o f  a practical nature that highlight 
programs, reports, and activities in academic li­
brarianship and ACRL that address racial and 
multicultural issues are especially needed f o r  this 
column. Please forw a rd  items to: Susana Hinojosa, 
Moffitt Undergraduate Library, UC Berkeley, 
Berkeley, CA 94720; e-mail: shinojos@library. 
berkeley.edu; fax : (415) 643-7891. ■  ■

WHCLIS open to public

The White House Conference is open to the 
public. Advanced registration for observers is 
$55, on-site registration is $70. Observers need­
ing assistance in travel and lodging may contact 
Carlson Travel Network, (800) 444-9848. In 
Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. call (301) 738- 
6550. For registration materials, call the Con­
ference office at (800) 942-5472.