About The Project
Libraries Talk About Race: Goals
- Discover what learning gaps exist to better inform future continuing education work related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
- Improve Wisconsin library workers’ capacity for discussing topics related to race (based on a pre- and post-survey).
- Determine next steps to improve the capacity of libraries and library workers in talking about and taking action toward racial equity.
Ways For Library Staff to Participate
1. Group education. Participate in one, two, or three one-hour Webinars delivered once “live” virtually and recorded for later playback.
Topics include:
-Talking about race at work
-Engaging in sensitive conversations & handling pushback
-Understanding why diversity matters in majority white spaces
2. Independent study and exploration. Independently explore the content provided in each Webinar, practice essential competencies explored in the webinars utilizing provided prompts, and build related skills and knowledge by exploring suggested books, articles, videos, etc.
3. Group exploration/discussion. Explore the content of each webinar in discussion forums made up of no more than 10 participants from across the state. Sessions will be offered virtually to allow for maximum accessibility and will be facilitated by trained library staff facilitators.
Project Organizers & Contact Us: The IDEA Team
As part of this 2022 LSTA-funded project, Libraries Talk About Race, a team of system consultants from across Wisconsin was convened and named “The IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity in Action) Team.” The purpose of this team is to facilitate and organize statewide professional learning on topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) for Wisconsin library staff members. In 2021/2022, the primary focus for the team is on race and racial equity.
Please contact any IDEA Team member with questions, suggestions, or to request any accommodations:
Jean Anderson, South Central Library System: jean@scls.info
Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System: sbrommer@scls.info
Mark Jochem, South Central Library System: mjochem@scls.info
Shauna Koszegi, Southwest Wisconsin Library System: skoszegi@swls.org
Leah Langby, IFLS Library System: langby@ifls.lib.wi.us
Sherry Machones, Northern Waters Library Service/Wisconsin Valley Library Service: smachones@northernwaters.org
Cole Zrostlik, Winding Rivers Library System: cole@wrlsweb.org
Additional Project Consulting
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Consulting for this project has been provided by the THE PEOPLE COMPANY. The People Company provides relevant advice, coaching, strategic perspective, and educational solutions for multiple industries, including healthcare, technology, higher education, insurance, manufacturing, service and non-profit industries to understand how diversity, equity and inclusion factors into their work, decision-making, problem-solving, business opportunities and business growth.
More Resources
More information about Inclusive Services in Wisconsin Public Libraries can be found on the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction website: https://dpi.wi.gov/pld/inclusive-services.
Learn more about the Wisconsin Inclusive Services Special Interest Group (SIG) and become a member here: https://www.wisconsinlibraries.org/sigs.
About the Website
In order to protect some of the proprietary information provided to the Wisconsin Library Community on this website by The People Company, and to make our discussion forum available to all participants, a free account is required to access some areas of the website.
You can register for a WisLibIDEA account, login to your account, or recover your WisLibIDEA password here: https://www.wislibidea.com/login.
You may also log in or out of the site at the bottom of any page. Login | Logout