BACKTALK: White Privilege in Library Land

摘要

What exactly is necessary to get across the ideals and values of diversity, not just in improved reference services but across the profession? This question crossed my mind after I returned from the CARL (California Academic and Research Libraries) conference, where I was on a panel about diversity for reference service to ethnic minorities. Moderator Tora Williamsen (Touro Univ., CA) kept the panel moving. Among us were Vang Vang (Cal State-Fresno); Renate Chancellor (U.S. Court of Appeals Lib., Pasadena, CA); and Romelia Salinas (Cal State-Los Angeles). They are all practicing librarians: younger than I am, probably more articulate, and female ― all to the good. We all believe in both diversity in our profession and diversity in the services we provide to our communities.