Skip to Main Content
It looks like you're using Internet Explorer 11 or older. This website works best with modern browsers such as the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. If you continue with this browser, you may see unexpected results.

Science and Technology Section (STS): Equity Diversity and Inclusion: Progress on EDI initiatives

The STS Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Committee (formerly Task Force) will the study the ways in which STS can support the work of equity, diversity, and inclusion within ACRL, academic libraries, and across the library profession.

Progress of EDI initiatives: Administrative

Timeline Goal Initiative Expanded description of initiative Report and Product(s) Lead E-mail address Status
Immediate Have STS respond when something happens in library world (e.g., at an ALA Conference) that is not in alignment with our vision for EDI A document of how to respond was drafted and okayed by the Executive Committee, but when the EDI Officer & EDI committee are in place, they will likely want to update it   Bonnie Fong librarianbonniefong@gmail.com Ongoing
Immediate Share STS’ EDI needs with ACRL and the ALA Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach   Currently done by the STS Chair     Ongoing
Short-term (2/28/2021) Update STS' strategic plan and goals to include equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI)     David Romito, Penelope Wood dromito@email.unc.edu In progress
Short-term (2/28/2021) Include EDI as a criterion to consider when it comes to STS sponsorships (such as the ACRL Conference scholarship and ALA Emerging Leader Program) Reached out to STS Awards committee and ACRL staff to learn more about how awardees are selected for the ACRL Conference Scholarship and participants selected for the ALA Emerging Leaders program. Learned that the STS Awards committee is limited in how much influence it has over the application process and choice of awardee for these two programs. Bonnie Fong librarianbonniefong@gmail.com Paused
Short-term (2/28/2021) Have an STS presence in EDI conversations at ACRL and ALA Have an STS rep. to the ALA EDI Assembly; still need to explore how STS can be part of the EDI conversation at ACRL Bonnie Fong was STS' rep. to the ALA EDI Assembly Bonnie Fong librarianbonniefong@gmail.com Ongoing

Progress of EDI initiatives: Recruitment

Timeline Goal Initiative Expanded description of initiative Report and Product(s) Lead E-mail address Status
Immediate Reconsider the recruitment, appointment, and nomination process for STS leadership roles so that we have a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive Section Sample demography survey submitted   Roxanne Bogucka, Lori Bronars roxanne.bogucka@austin.utexas.edu In progress
Short-term (2/28/2021) Hold an annual ‘About STS’ Webinar to let members know more about STS – what the organization does, how it’s structured, who is on the Executive Committee, how members can become leaders (and just what those responsibilities entail) Worked with STS Membership & Recruitment Committee to organize the Webinar, which was held 1/21/2021, 2pm ET, and promoted to multiple listservs beyond STS-L Link to the recording: https://youtu.be/AneVi0UfhSI Bonnie Fong librarianbonniefong@gmail.com Completed; Ongoing?
Short-Long-term (2021-2025) Intentionally build bridges with other groups (e.g., ethnic caucuses) to encourage science librarians there to join STS     Nastasha Johnson    

Progress of EDI initiatives: Partnerships

Timeline Goal Initiative Expanded description of initiative Report and Product(s) Lead E-mail address Status
Immediate Do outreach to (potential) science librarians in diversity residencies – for example, send an invitation to an annual ‘About STS’ Webinar Ongoing outreach - sending posts to relevant listserv   Roxanne Bogucka, Lori Bronars roxanne.bogucka@austin.utexas.edu Ongoing
Short-term (2/28/2021) Promote STS events to ethnic caucuses; the Rainbow Round Table; other ACRL sections; and other groups to try and increase the diversity of attendants Created a spreadsheet of relevant listservs & suggested "best practices" use for promotion of STS event. The list reflects the recent migration to ALA Connect, but some sections are not using ALA Connect. Described spreadsheet and best practices were discussed and given to the Publicity Officer who agreed to maintain the list and to make all STS committees aware of the list at the beginning of each committee cycle. Chapel Cowden, Stacy Johnson   Completed
Short-term (2/28/2021) Partner with ethnic caucuses; the Rainbow Round Table; other ACRL sections; and/or science librarian bootcamps to co-host programs     Meghan Lafferty mlaffert@umn.edu In progress
Short-term (2/28/2021) Identify the relevant existing programs in library world that support equity, diversity, and/or inclusion (e.g., ALA Spectrum Scholars, ARL Kaleidoscope program) and encourage program participants to get involved in STS – for example, invite them to an annual ‘About STS’ Webinar and/or Council meeting Created spreadsheet of relevant Web sites that address EDI issues; encouraging participation is a longer term project as participants will change each year Spreadsheet shared with EDI Implementation Team TF Amanda McCormick afm33@buffalo.edu Completed; ongoing
Short-Long-term (2021-2025) Support diverse library school students (or even undergraduate science majors) interested in science librarianship by developing a mentoring program for them and/or providing scholarships          

Progress of EDI initiatives: Education

Timeline Goal Initiative Expanded description of initiative Report and Product(s) Lead E-mail address Status
Immediate Regularly post to the STS-L listserv a summarization of current EDI research (or ideas to improve) to help librarians keep this on the front of their minds and to stay on top of what’s happening

Received approval to broaden SRDAC charge to add EDI issues; also partnered with STS Publications committee to publish a special STS Signal issue focused on EDI

 Link to Spring 2021 STS Signal issue: https://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/aboutacrl/directoryofleadership/sections/sts/stswebsite/publications/sts_spring2021.pdf Amanda McCormick, Sam Putnam afm33@buffalo.edu, srputnam@ufl.edu Completed
Short-term (2/28/2021) Hold a workshop/Webinar about how to recruit, hire, and retain diverse candidates 'Equity Starts Before Hire: A Look at Equitable Approaches to Hiring and Retention' Webinar was held on 2/3/2021, 12pm ET, with speakers Twanna Hodge and Tarida Anantachai. Was advertised on multiple listservs. Link to recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYcheTnEXYw (~300 attendees; video viewed 1,227 times by 6/17/2021) Laura Palumbo, Chapel Cowden laura.palumbo@rutgers.edu Completed

Progress of EDI initiatives: Programming

Timeline Goal Initiative Expanded description of initiative Report and Product(s) Lead E-mail address Status
Immediate Include EDI as a criteria to consider when it comes to STS programming, from identifying topics, selecting speakers, choosing paper and poster presentations, etc.     Roxanne Bogucka, Sam Putnam roxanne.bogucka@austin.utexas.edu In progress
Short-term (2/28/2021) Share slides, handouts, and/or notes from conferences for those who are unable to attend     Meghan Lafferty   Ongoing
Long term (2023-2025) Consider programming about science mis-steps (e.g., showing racism – Tuskegee syphilis study)         Ongoing