NDLC 2016
On August 10, 2016, the OMA attended the National Diversity in Libraries Conference Pre-Conference Forum on Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility at the Charles E Young Research Library on the UCLA campus.
“Under the theme of “Bridges to Inclusion,” NDLC ’16 endeavors to highlight issues related to diversity and inclusion that affect staff, users, and institutions in the library, archive, and museum (LAM) fields. It also aims to articulate the value of and develop strategies for diversity and inclusion in LAMs in order to improve organizational excellence and community engagement.” ~ NDLC 2016 website
The pre-conference was packed with presentations on a variety of topics:
- Accessibility brings diversity: from the Americans with Disabilities Act to Access for All Stephanie Rosen, Accessibility Specialist and Associate Librarian, University of Michigan
- Customer Service: Etiquette and Effective Communication Stephanie Rosen, Accessibility Specialist and Associate Librarian, University of Michigan
- Web Design: Principle of Accessibility, Overview of Tools Colin Fulton, Front-end architect and accessibility specialist, University of Michigan
- Procurement: Procedures for Buying Accessible; Policy, VPAT, Documentation Cheryl Pruitt, Director of the Accessible Technology Initiative, California University System
- Exhibit Design: Collections without Barriers Kara West, Library Arts and Culture Exhibition Manager, City of San Diego, San Diego Public Library
The pre-conference also featured a panel on accessibility success stories as well as a keynote address by Mark Riccobono, president of the National Federation of the Blind. The day concluded with a special town hall “Caught in the Crossfire: A Conversation on Libraries and Communities in Distress” #LISinCrisis in which topics such the role of libraries in times of crises; the need to integrate critical approaches into LIS education and programming; the need for strong community partnerships; strategies for self-care; legal considerations regarding protest and free speech; and how LIS education may play a role in preparing future LIS professionals were discussed.
