Webinar Overview:
The policies of a library help to create the library’s environment for staff and patrons. Effective library policies are essential for setting clear expectations, defining responsibilities, and establishing boundaries. Unfortunately, policies often focus on negatives, rather than positives and may unintentionally target (and harm) specific populations.
Using several policies that a library has – dress code, bereavement, code of conduct, and meeting room policies – we will discuss how to avoid policies driven by fear or past events, and discover how policies can focus on positive actions, inclusion, and equity.
Participants are encouraged to bring their dress code, bereavement, code of conduct, and meeting room policies to the webinar. There will be time during the webinar for them to review these specific policies and begin to update them using information learned during the session.
Additional Information:
This webinar will use interactive components to allow participants to apply what they are learning to their own situations.
Learning Objectives: After this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Identify and describe the diverse populations the library serves.
- Review their library policies with an equity lens.
- Understand when a policy contains words that contain unintentional meanings.
- Discuss with staff, board, and community members how policy changes support the
library’s mission and the community.
Intended Audience: Library board members and staff involved in creating or implementing internal and external policies.
Speaker: In her own consulting practice (Hurst Associates, Ltd.), Jill Hurst-Wahl works at the intersection of information, technology, and people, which includes creating inclusive systems and spaces. In addition, Jill is part of Widerstand Consulting, which does anti-racism work with many organizations, including libraries. She is professor
emerita at Syracuse University's iSchool.
REGISTER
This webinar will be recorded.
