CARL-DIAL Meeting Library professionals meet to discuss diversity

August 6, 2018

Last Thursday, the Leatherby Libraries welcomed members of CARL-DIAL to discuss diversity issues and explore some of the library’s exhibits and displays.

CARL (California Academic & Research Libraries) is an organization founded in 1929 to provide professional growth opportunities and support a growing network of academic or research libraries in California. In the early 1980s, as its member-base was quickly expanding, CARL started developing interest groups that concentrated on topics of specific importance to the academic library community. DIAL (Diversity in Academic Libraries) was formed in 1993 to focus on current diversity issues. DIAL serves as an adviser to CARL, and seeks to promote an understanding and sensitivity towards the diverse user groups served by academic and research libraries in California, advocate for inclusiveness, equity, and diversity within institutional policies, and foster values rooted in professional ethics and social justice.

Erin Pullin, Director of Diversity & Inclusion at Chapman University.

The morning started with a presentation by Erin Pullin, the Director of Diversity & Inclusion at Chapman University, who spoke about Chapman’s Diversity Project and its goal of fostering meaningful dialogue centered on developing strategic priorities and recommendations for diversity and inclusion. Library Development Coordinator, Essraa Nawar, introduced the Leatherby Libraries and gave some examples of how the library is working with Chapman’s Diversity Project to make its services and resources more accessible and inclusive.

CARL-DIAL members in the the Sala and Aron Samueli Holocaust Memorial Library.

After the meeting, Essraa took the CARL-DIAL members on a tour of the library where they were able to explore the diversity of its programs, art, displays, and treasures. Some stops on the tour included Evelyn LaLanne’s Collection of Russian Icons (4^th Floor), the Sala and Aron Samueli Holocaust Memorial Library (4^th Floor), the Italian Heritage Archive Room (Study Room, 3^rd Floor), and the Sikhs and Sikhism in America Room (Study Room, 2^nd Floor). Following the tour, the CARL-DIAL members were invited to lunch in the Center for American War Letters.