Category: Cultural Competency

Diversity Standards: Cultural Competency for Academic Libraries

January 31, 2018 / Sandra Hughes-Hassell

Format: Website

Description: In 2012, ACRL adopted a set of diversity standards which emphasize the need and obligation of academic libraries to serve and advocate for racial and ethnically diverse constituencies. While the standards were developed for academic libraries, they are applicable to libraries that serve youth. The standards provide definitions for terms such as cultural competency, as well as concrete descriptions of what culturally competent library staff do to meet the needs of their diverse communities.

Link: http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/diversity

Cultural Competence: A Conceptual Framework for Library and Information Science Professionals

January 31, 2018 / Sandra Hughes-Hassell

Format: Article

Description: This article proposes a conceptual framework for developing cultural competence for LIS professionals and identifies three domains in which cultural competence is developed: cognitive, interpersonal, and environmental. The development of cultural competence within these domains is discussed, and essential elements needed to develop cultural competence within the domains are identified.

Link: http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10.1086/597080

Citation: Patricia Montiel Overall, “Cultural Competence: A Conceptual Framework for Library and Information Science Professionals,” The Library Quarterly 79, no. 2 (April 2009): 175-204.

How to Overcome Our Biases? Walk Boldly Toward Them

January 16, 2018 / Sandra Hughes-Hassell

Format: TED Talk

Description: In this TED Talk, diversity advocate Vernā Myers looks closely at some of the subconscious attitudes and biases we hold toward out-groups. She makes a plea to all people: “Acknowledge your biases. Then move toward, not away from, the groups that make you uncomfortable.”

Link: https://www.ted.com/talks/verna_myers_how_to_overcome_our_biases_walk_boldly_toward_them

Strategies for Building Cultural Competency

January 5, 2018 / Sandra Hughes-Hassell

Format: Report

Description: In this report, Hanover Research provides an overview of literature related to building cultural competency at the school district level. The report examines characteristics of culturally responsive schools and discusses strategies for fostering cultural competency among district staff. While focused on school districts and schools, the topics included are applicable to library systems and branches.

Link: http://gssaweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Strategies-for-Building-Cultural-Competency-1.pdf

Citation: Hanover Research. “Strategies for Building Cultural Competency,” Arlington, VA: Hanover Research, 2014.

Communicating Cross-Culturally: What Teachers Should Know

December 30, 2017 / Sandra Hughes-Hassell

Format: Article

Description: This article looks at the need for teachers to be culturally responsive and competent as schools and classrooms become increasingly linguistically and culturally diverse. It highlights five points of cultural difference with which all educators should be aware when interacting with students of diverse backgrounds.

Link: http://iteslj.org/Articles/Pratt-Johnson-CrossCultural.html

Citation: Pratt-Johnson, Yvonne. “Communicating Cross-Culturally: What Teachers Should Know,” The Internet TESL Journal, Vol. XII, No. 2, February 2006

Information Services to Diverse Populations: Developing Culturally Competent Library Professionals

December 19, 2017 / Sandra Hughes-Hassell

Format: Book

Description: In this book, Nicole Cooke addresses the political, social, economic, and technological divides among library patrons, covers transformative library services, and discusses outreach and services to diverse populations as well as how to evaluate such services, among many other topics. Appendices containing suggestions for exercises and assignments as well as lists of related library organizations and readings in related literature provide readers with additional resources.

Link: http://www.abc-clio.com/LibrariesUnlimited/product.aspx?pc=A4633P

Citation: Cooke, Nicole (2016). Information services to diverse populations: Developing culturally competent library professionals. Santa Barbara: Libraries Unlimited.