Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Community of Interest
Community Charge
The BLC Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion COI provides opportunities for BLC members to collaborate on and discuss current institution member EDI projects, and supports and develops programming for efforts that create inclusive and diverse library workplaces and services. The COI evaluates and assesses the current state of EDI in the BLC, identifies collaborative project opportunities with existing BLC Communities, identifies EDI educational programming and initiatives for the BLC, and provides networking opportunities and a space for underrepresented communities to caucus.
Conveners
Ann Marie D. Shafer
Co-chair
Library Desks Service Manager
UMass Boston Healey Library
AnnMarie.Shafer@umb.edu
Kristen Burkholder
Co-chair
Head of Access & Visitor Services, Homer Babbidge Library
University of Connecticut
kristen.burkholder@uconn.edu
Membership
Membership is open to all BLC staff, with particular attention to those from underrepresented groups and their allies. Underrepresented groups include: staff of color, LGBTQ+ staff, staff with disabilities, and any intersections of these groups, as well as other groups that have lacked equity and inclusion in libraries. An ally is someone who is not a member of an underrepresented group but who takes action to support underrepresented groups.
Meetings
The EDI COI currently meets bi-monthly via Zoom and occasionally in-person as opportunities arise, such as the BLC Forum.
Join BLC EDI COI
Complete the form below to join BLC's EDI COI. You'll automatically be added to the email group and shared Google Drive.