LIBR 275
Library Service for Racially & Ethnically Diverse COMMUNITIES
Spring 2004
2/28, 3/20, 4/3, 5/15

Elizabeth Martinez
Adjunct Faculty
emfuture@hotmail.com

GREENSHEET

I. Course Description

This class is designed to develop the skills for planning, implementing and evaluating programs that address the information needs of diverse racial, ethnic, and linguistic communities, and to explore the complex, social, economic, historical, and technological developments that impact library and information services to diverse communities.

II. Course and School Objectives

At the completion of the course, the students will be able to:

1. Understand the challenges of providing information services in a multicultural and multiracial society; and understand the ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and racial factors which create those challenges;
2. Identify resources for the development of library services for diverse communities;
3. Determine the cultural diversity and information needs of user communities; and develop strategies for providing appropriate services;
4. Chart the role of information institutions in promoting cultural diversity and preserving ethnic heritage;
5. Advocate and provide leadership for services for diverse communities.

This course supports the following SLIS objectives:
• The foundation of information services.
• Advocacy and leadership for access to information and knowledge resources;
• Evaluating and utilizing relevant research studies from a variety of disciplines.

III. There are No Required Texts: See required readings.

Recommended Texts:

1. Galens, Judy et al. (eds.) Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America. (2nd ed.) New York: Gale Research Inc., 2000.
2. Guerena, Sal (ed.). Latino Librarianship: A Handbook for Professionals. (2nd ed.) Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 2000.
3. Metoyer-Duran, Cheryl. Gatekeepers in Ethnolinguistic Communities. Norwood, NJ: Ablex Pub., 1993.

IV. Course Outline

The class incorporates a mix of lecture, discussion, guest speakers, films, and student presentations. The question to be considered throughout course: Are libraries functional, effective and responsive in addressing the information needs of culturally diverse communities?

February 28: Focus on Diversity; The American Experience.

REQUIRED READINGS:

1. Stoffle, Carla J. and Patricia A. Tarin. “No Place for Neutrality: The Case for Multiculturalism,” Library Journal: 46-49, July 1994.
2. McIntosh, Peggy. “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack,” Peace and Freedom, 49: 10-12, July/August 1989.
3. Wright, Lawrence. “One Drop of Blood,” The New Yorker, 46-55; July 25, 1994.

RECOMMENDED READINGS:

1. Chu, Clara M. “Multiracial/Multiethnic People: Selected Resources (June 1999),” prepared for Racially and Ethnically Mixed People: Information Needs, Services, and the 2000 Census, American Library Association Conference, 27th June 1999, New Orleans. www.gseis.ucla.edu/faculty/chu/mrace.htm
2. Josey, E.J. “Education for Library Services to Cultural Minorities,” Education Libraries, 15(3): 16-22, Winter 1991.
3. Kitano, Harry H.L. Race Relations. 5th ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1997.
4. McCook, Kathleen de la Pena, and Kate Lippincott. “Library Schools and Diversity: Who Makes the Grade?,” Library Journal: 30-32, April 15, 1997.
5. McCook, Kathleen de la Pena (ed.). Women of Color in Librarianship: An Oral History. Chicago: American Library Association, 1998.
6. O’Hearn, Claudine Chiawei (ed.) Half and Half: Writers on Growing Up Biracial and Bicultural. New York: Pantheon, 1998.
7. Simon Wiesenthal Center. The New Lexicon of Hate: The Changing Tactics, Language and Symbols of America’s Extremists, 3rd ed., 1998.

March 20: Diversity Resources. Historical Perspectives.

REQUIRED READINGS:

1. Curry. Deborah A. “Your Worries Ain’t Like Mine: African American Librarians and the Pervasiveness of Racism, Prejudice and Discrimination in Academe,” In The Reference Librarian, 45/46: 299-311, 1994.
2. Hamilton, Virginia. “The Library’s Role in a Multicultural Society,” In Libraries, Coalitions & the Public Good, ed. By E.J. Josey. New York: Neal-Schuman Pub., 1987; pp.43-55.
3. Tarin, Patricia. “Rand Misses the Point: A ‘Minority” Report,” Library Journal, 113: 31-34, November 1, 1988.

RECOMMENDED READINGS:

1. Bigelow, Jane M. H. “Library and Information Services for Native Americans,” Multicultural Review, 3(4): 20-24, 1994.
2. Fish, James. “Responding to Cultural Diversity: A Library in Transition,” Wilson Library Bulletin, 66(6): 34-37; February 1992.
4. Metoyer-Duran, Cheryl. “Cross-Cultural Research in Ethnolinguistic Communities: Methodological Considerations,” Public Libraries, 32(1): 18-25, 1993.
3. Trujillo, Roberto G. and David C. Weber. “Academic Library responses to Cultural Diversity: A Position Paper for the 1990’s,” The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 17(3): 157-161, 1991.

April 3: Information Institutions & Multicultural Services.

REQUIRED READINGS:

1. Berman, Sanford. “Things are Seldom What They Seem: Finding Multicultural Materials in Library Catalogs,” In Alternative Library Literature, 1990/1991: A Biennial Anthology, ed. By Sanford Berman and James P. Danky. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 1992: 132-136.
2. Metoyer-Duran, Cheryl. “The Information and Referral Process in Culturally Diverse Communities,” RQ, 32(3): 168-173, 1994.
3. Guerena, Salvador. “Archives and Manuscripts: Historical Antecedents to Contemporary Chicano Collections,” In Alternative Library Literature, 1988/1989: A Biennial Anthology, ed. By Sanford Berman and James P. Danky. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 1990: 193-74.
4. Holland, Maurita and Smith, Kari. “Broadening Access to Native American Collections via the Internet." Museums and the Web 1999, Archives & Museum Informatics; www.archimuse.com/mw99/papers/holland
5. Rios-Bustamante, Antonio. “The Hijacking of a Heritage: The California Museum of Latino History – Discourse, Politics and History,” In Rios-Bustamante, Antonio and Chris Marin (eds.). Latinos in Museums: A Heritage Reclaimed. Malabar, FL: Krieger Publishing Co., 1998; 67-88.

RECOMMENDED READINGS:

1. Chu, Clara M. “Literacy Practices of Linguistic Minorities: Socio-Linguistic Issues and Implications for Literacy Services, “ Library Quarterly, 69(3): 339-59, July 1999.
2. Gilton, Donna L. “A World of Difference: Preparing for Information Literacy Instruction for Diverse Groups,” Multilingual Review, 3(3): 54-62, 1994.
3. Nance-Mitchell, Veronica E. “A Multicultural Library: Strategy for the Twenty-First Century,” College & Research Libraries, 405-413: September 1996.
4. Oliver, Lee, Robert Belvin and Sylva Manoogian. “Survey on Services to Multicultural Populations,” Public Libraries, 197-204; July/August 1994.
5. Robotham, John and Gerald Shields. “Racism, Sexism and Other ‘Isms’,” In: Freedom of Access to Library Materials. New York: Neal-Schuman Pub., 1982: 88-105.

May 15: Review. Student Presentations of Final Paper. Each presentation is limited to 10 minutes, and will provide an overview of the paper.

V. Assignments

1. Group Assignment: Information on the Internet

• Student groups of three.
• Submit a print copy of the homepage of the websites you examine and any other appropriate handouts. No formal written paper is required to be submitted.
• Due March 20 with a 15 minute presentation to class.

For this assignment, select a unique community and find five websites that represent their history, culture, and issues. Find websites that reflect the community from their own perspectives. Discuss how the websites are useful to librarians.

The Internet is a rich resource of multicultural information resources that must be examined. While there are challenges to users, especially children, it is important to determine biased, prejudicial information from factual, objective information. One strategy information professionals use to guide users in locating relevant and useful information is to create a webpage with organized links, such as “guide to the best.”

2. Group Interview Assignment: Multicultural Services & Programs

• Student groups of three.
• Provide each class member with any appropriate handouts. No formal written paper is required.
• Due April 3 with a 15 minute presentation to class.

Libraries provide services and programs to diverse populations. Select a library of any type and have each member of the group interview a different staff-member (total of 3 interviews) for the following information:

• What multicultural and multilingual services and programs are offered?
• What are the policies and issues regarding multicultural services and programs?
• How does the staff evaluate services and programs to diverse populations?
• What are the challenges facing the profession regarding multicultural services and programs?

Include in your presentation your observations about the interview process, any problems encountered, and your findings and conclusions.

3. Paper.

• Length: 15 double-spaced pages including a bibliography.
• Confirm the topic of the paper with the instructor.
• Due May 15 with a 10 minute synopsis to the class.

Write an Advocacy Paper: Select a culturally diverse group in your community, and gather demographic data on it, and learn about its socio-economic conditions. Learn what information services are available in your community to this group, and what information services are requested. Write an advocacy paper in support of information services to the group; include your findings, your observations about the process, any problems or barriers encountered, and recommendations for specific programs and services. Remember that you are advocating for library services for a particular community and may have to convince library staff to support you.

Grading: Total of 100 points