White Privilege in Library Land
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BULLETIN OF THE OFFICE FOR DIVERSITY, Versed AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION adj. Practiced or skilled; knowledgeable. JUNE 2004 SPECIAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2004 ISSUE 2. If I should need to change jobs, I can GUEST EDITORIAL be pretty sure of working in my For more dialogue on this library position in a library profes- topic, don’t miss… sionally staffed, primarily, if not No Crystal Stair, White Privilege exclusively with people of my race. 3. I can be pretty sure that my col- Only Glass Ceilings In Library Land leagues in such a location will be Underrepresented neutral or pleasant to me. Groups and Library John D. Berry 4. I can take a job with an affirmative action employer without having co- Leadership workers on the job suspect that I got ALA Councilor at Large and Native American ALA Annual Conference Studies Librarian/Comparative Ethnic Studies it because of race. Saturday, June 26, 2004 1:30–3:30 P.M. Librarian, Ethnic Studies Library, University of 5. I can be pretty sure that the person in Orlando Convention Center, 223 B California, Berkeley charge in a library will be a person of my race. Library Directors and Deputy Directors Having just returned from the CARL 6. I can remain oblivious of the lan- from ethnically diverse backgrounds are (California Academic and Research guage and customs of persons of still somewhat rare. This program brings Libraries) conference, where I was a pan- color who constitute the world’s together library leaders from under- elist on a Diversity Panel for Reference majority without feeling in my cul- represented groups to tell their personal stories of challenge and triumph. Gain service, I just had to stop and think to ture any penalty for such oblivion. insight and strategies for navigating the myself: What exactly is necessary, to get 7. I can examine the majority of materi- als in my library, print or media and road to leadership. Frank talk about across the ideals and values of diversity, mentoring; networking; avoiding see people of my race widely repre- not just in improved reference services, pigeonholes and pitfalls for those trying but profession wide? sented. to break out of the box and for anyone My co-panelists were younger, proba- 8. When conducting collection develop- who wants to know what it takes to bly more articulate and female, all to the ment, I can easily find materials fea- accelerate their careers. Featuring Luis good and they were most eloquent. We turing people of my race. Herrera (Director, Pasadena Public were all willing to do this session and 9. When I research national history or Library); Ling Hwey Jeng (Dean, Texas believe in our professions need for diver- “civilization,” I find that I am shown Women’s University School of Library and Information Science); Ruby Licona sity, professionally and in regards to serv- that people of my color made it what (Associate Dean, Mississippi State ices to our communities. it is. 10. I can criticize my library or my pro- University Libraries); Laurel Minott At the end of our session, during the (Deputy Director, Northwestern fession and talk about how much I question and answer period, one academ- University Library); Greg Reese (Director, ic librarian in the audience said and I par- fear its policies and behavior without East Cleveland Public Library); and aphrase, “So, if we just treat everybody being seen as an outsider. Andrew Venable (Director, Cleveland nicely, that should do it.” Not particularly 11. I can go home from most profession- Public Library). phrased as a question either. I know this al meetings or conferences feeling librarian did not mean this poorly, but somewhat tied in, rather then isolat- they still apparently didn’t get it. ed, out-of-place outnumbered, Superficially, that answer could be yes. unheard, held at a distance or feared. negative episode or situation whether But, that doesn’t really get it either. 12. If my work day, week or year is going it has racial overtones. Perhaps an adapted version of some of badly, I need not ask myself of each continued on PAGE 12 the questions from “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Peggy McIntosh will help. IN THIS ISSUE These are yes or no questions, if you can say yes to most of these questions, From the Field: An Interview with John Ayala . 2 you possess “white privilege.” From the Field: Self-advocacy and Minority Retention . 6 Mark Your Calendar: Annual Events and Summer Conferences . 4 1. I can, if I wish, arrange to be in the Diversity Toolchest: Academic Research Residencies and More . 8 professional company of people of my race most of the time. Spectrum Scope: From Library School to Career . 11 JUNE 2004 1 VERSED About Versed FROM THE FIELD Versed, the official publication of The Tenor of the Times the American Library Association’s Office for Diversity, 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611, is pub- Social Activism and the Recruitment of lished 5 times per year online at www.ala.org/versed with paper Mexican American Librarians in the 1970s: printings available twice yearly at An interview with John Ayala ALA Midwinter Meetings and Annual Conferences. Hector Escobar True to its meaning: practiced, skilled, or knowledgeable; Versed John Ayala is Dean, Learning Resources, Fullerton Community College. will bring together the most pro- Hector Escobar is Latino Studies/Reference Librarian, University of Notre Dame. gressive practitioners and the best practices in current library-based diversity work. In this first in a series of oral interviews between veteran and “new generation” librarians, pioneering librarian, John Ayala talks Please consider submitting an article with former Spectrum Scholar and current ALA Councilor Hector Escobar or editorial; sharing a successful about early efforts to recruit Latinos to Librarianship. program or initiative; reviewing and recommending diversity-related books and videos of interest to Library at Long Beach City College, library service (whole bibliographies HE: Tell us a bit about yourself and how you became involved with Hispanic Pacific Coast College. I have been in com- and videographies are especially recruitment. munity college libraries for 32 years and welcome); tackling pressing social or JA: Well actually I was assisted by the in libraries for 41 years. professional issues; and publicizing Committee to Recruit Mexican American diversity related events or confer- Librarians. We had a gentleman who was HE: You must like it! ences. Visit www.ala.org/versed for trying to recruit librarians through MECHA, JA: Ah, it likes me. It hasn’t done our submission guidelines and edi- a Mexican American student group. The badly for me. I can’t complain. But I have torial calendar or email inquiries to: students were giving the guy a hard time, to tell you the story of how I got [email protected]. saying ‘why should we become librarians?’ involved in libraries, because it really is and I walked in. I was a bookmobile driver about recruitment. My branch librarian, ©2004 American Library Association. at the time for the city of Long Beach and Harriet Covey, had a youth group . and All material in Versed subject to was getting ready to go to library school. she originally began trying to recruit my copyright by the American Library So I began talking to the students and giv- brother because he was the academician Association may be photocopied for ing them various reasons why we should in the family. I was a B student, he was the noncommercial purpose of sci- be serving our communities. The guy told an A student, not much of a difference, entific or educational advancement. me about the organization and mentioned but enough I guess. She began talking to people that I should know. I knew one of him about becoming a librarian but he Office for Diversity them already, Harriet Covey, she had been wanted to go into in education. He was American Library Association my branch librarian when I was growing an education major and I was majoring 50 East Huron Street up. I told him that I was going to be going in administration of justice. But I heard Chicago, IL 60611 to library school in LA. I had applied at the talk and about a year later, I decided phone: 1.800.545.2433 ext. 5020 three library schools, UCLA, USC and that I didn’t want to be an administration fax: (312) 280-3256 Immaculate Heart College and I actually of justice major anymore. So I went back e-mail: [email protected] ended up going to Immaculate Heart to her and told her that I was interested online: www.ala.org/diversity because they offered me the best package, in working in libraries and she told me a full paid fellowship. “Well, you don’t fit the image.” And I said Tracie D. Hall, Director “What’s the image?” I guess she meant Wendy Prellwitz, Program Officer HE: Now, your current position is being an academic. But she said “If you Director of the library at Fullerton are serious, I’ll help you get a job,” and Design by Karen Sheets. College? she did. She helped me get hired on as Layout by ALA Production Services. JA: I am Dean of the library at the bookmobile driver specifically Fullerton College. I have been here for 14 because I could work directly with years. Prior to this I was Director of the patrons, whereas if I worked in the 2 JUNE 2004 VERSED library I would strictly be doing clerical JA: Well there’s a story there too. out with Dr. Sanchez from the Mexican work.