A strategic diversity manifesto for public libraries in the 21st century

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this research-based philosophical piece is to present a progressive manifesto for public libraries in the 21st century to address gaps in embracing diversity in its holistic dimensions and representing such information in their strategic planning and web documentations. Design/methodology/approach – Content analysis of public library websites in the USA informed the development of a Strategic Diversity Manifesto that includes the “who”, the “what” and the “how” components to describe and discuss diversity-related matters in their strategic planning and web representations. Findings – The Strategic Diversity Manifesto provides a mechanism for individual public library agencies, in their localized context and environment, to strategically inquire, describe, discuss, reflect, analyze and translate into concretized actions their picture of diversity as grounded in the reality of their representative communities. Originality/value – The Strategic Diversity Manifesto presents a more a comprehensive and consolidated picture of diversity beyond isolated strategies seen in past efforts. It is a broader level of analysis and “picture painting” of the agency’s context, which may not be as detailed as compared to other modes of description, though as a result, it is more holistic instead of fragmentary. The aim is first and foremost to provide a basis for reflective thought and discussion.

Opening the Conversation: How Ontario Public Library Websites Frame Disability

“…Language use and framing of topics on websites have also been of interest to LIS researchers. Websites have been analyzed for their representation of diversity (Mehra & Davis, 2015), for their information on entrepreneurship (Faulkner, 2018), for their information about early literacy initiatives (Prendergast, 2013), and for the amount and type of information about children's programming (Kanazawa & Maruyama, 2008), among others.…”

Efforts to Overcome Homelessness in the Pruitt Branch of the Nashville Public Library

“…These categories encompass any centers, organizations, departments and offices, community engagement, and news and upcoming events within the library. Mehra and Davis (2015) suggest that libraries should offer resources, programs, and services to all diverse communities that fall in the range of each of these categories and others. While providing offerings within each of these categories does not guarantee that a library is doing all it can to meet the needs of a diverse community, the SDM provides a first step to evaluating the responses of the library in regards to specific communities.…”

“…The second element related to information sources proposed by Mehra and Davis (2015) is resources (A.2), which include databases, indexes, and research guides. Resources specifically for people who are experiencing homelessness were not found on the library's website, but through personal correspondence with one of the library staff at the Pruitt Branch.…”

“…Internal and external connections, the last set of elements suggested by Mehra and Davis (2015), include centers, organizations, departments, and offices that may be internally accessible; community engagement, such as "connections to external community-based diversity agencies"; and news and upcoming events, which includes information about programming and other events (p. 21). Regarding internal centers and organizations (C.1), the startup page that first appears when a patron accesses the Internet from one of the public computers in the library contains a link to Nashville Helps, a project of the library's adult literacy program.…”

“…This article focuses on how the Pruitt Branch of the Nashville Public Library provides a variety of traditional and non-traditional services and addresses subjects related to homelessness in its community. By applying the strategic diversity manifesto (SDM) introduced by Mehra and Davis (2015) to the Pruitt Branch Library and utilizing their strategy of researching library websites to T discover the responses to diverse communities, the Pruitt Branch's current offerings and responses to patrons who are experiencing homelessness are analyzed and a strategic action plan for how the library can improve its services to this population is proposed.…”