Diversity Awards 2009
As there was no Awards Dinner at Umbrella 2009 the committee decided to make a special award to Margaret Watson for outstanding achievement in encouraging diversity in the library and information community and her longstanding commitment to diversity and the Diversity Group.
The award was given especially for Margaret’s work on the Encompass initiative, CILIP’s training scheme to increase the numbers of representatives of the black and minority ethnic communities in the profession. A well known consultant and trainer, Margaret is a very active mentor to new professionals, and formerly taught at Northumbria University.
The Diversity Award in 2009 was presented to Margaret Watson; she said:
“When I was presented with a special award from the Diversity Group in 2009 I was absolutely thrilled but felt that the award should be shared with colleagues from the Diversity Group and with Ayub Khan and Guy Daines. I have been honoured to work in promoting diversity in library and information services with colleagues who are actually out there on the frontline. These colleagues in CILIP have long been working hard to ensure we have a more representational workforce.
This year sees the national roll-out of Encompass, CILIP’s positive action scheme and I am delighted to still be part of that initiative. Hopefully we will see a successful scheme nationwide and an extension of the scheme to other under-represented groups in the near future. I also represent the UK Inter-Professional Group on Equally Professional, a network of professional bodies who are committed to promoting equality and diversity; I am a member of the government’s Gateways to the Professions Collaborative Forum which is tasked with meeting many of the Fair Access Panel’s recommendations this year. I am very pleased to continue to support diversity in this wider context. As I said when I was presented with the award CILIP has made some progress in widening access to the profession , but it is still early days and we all need to ensure we carry on the fight for diversity and equality.”
Diversity Awards 2007
The winners of these two categories were presented with a certificate at the Umbrella Awards Dinner on 29th June 2007.
Personal Achievement Award
Winner:
Joanne Harvey – Service Development Manager: Reader Development at Brighton and Hove
One of Joanne’s major achievements at Brighton and Hove was, to set up, co ordinate and develop nine reading groups within the libraries; as well as providing stock, support and advice for further private reading groups.
One of the reading groups was LGBT, which meets once a month in Hove. This group proved very popular and made a significant impact. Not only it was a chance for LGBT members to get together and discuss books; but it also acts as a social arena for those new individuals in Brighton to meet other members of the LGBT community. This can be seen as an example of the promotion of diversity. Joanne’s major success was the changes of library policy to support LGBT, which is very significant and demonstrates her commitment.
Highly Commended:
Judith Preece – University of East London
Project: Black History Month, Black Histories and hidden mysteries of African heritage at UEL.
The main purpose of this project was to raise the profile for black culture through exhibitions and various events because at UEL there are over 20,000 students from 120 different countries. Indeed 60% of their students come from minority ethnic groups and their mission statement indicates that they are proud of their diversity.
UEL organised wholly inclusive events such as poetry workshop which involves local school children, involving BME Library staff, BME academic staff, their local community, local school children and of course their own students and staff. The celebration of BHM created tremendous staff development, staff morale and motivation within the service. UEL also wanted to improve services for diverse community in future by delivering diversity training to all their staff.
Organisational Change Award
Winner:
L. B. Camden
Project: Refugee work placement in libraries
The main aim of this project was to help refugee to gain valuable experience, which should make it easier for them to find a job, to develop their CV and transferable skills.
The benefit of this scheme is double folded. To the refugee, firstly it helped to build up self-esteem and secondly to develop understanding of workplace rules and regulations that may differ vastly from origin countries. Thirdly the development of skills to be appropriate to any employer and finally the ability to compete in the job market.
For the employer, this was true in case of libraries, that the work experience can bring the following benefits: firstly new ideas, cultural diversity, and fresh enthusiasm and partnership.
Secondly extra resources and additional skills to tackle projects and finally encouragement for other staff to be more open to other cultures and learn from others, in this sense the library becomes more representative of the local workforce.
Highly Commended:
Hertfordshire libraries, Heritage and Arts
Project: Community language stock survey
The Highly Commended Award in the Organisational Change Award goes to Hertfordshire Libraries, Heritage and Arts for their community language stock survey project. This project identifies priorities and meets the needs of Hertfordshire’s multicultural communities.
This survey has the following three objectives:
1. To develop a rolling programme of stock surveys to assess the stability, quality and relevance of current community language stock in relation to the requirements of local minority ethnic communities.
2. To assess whether the recommendations from CILLA (Co operative of Indic Language Library Authority) community language stock selection service were meeting user’s needs and preference.
3. To consult with local minority ethnic user’s as a part of on going commitment to community engagement and as a part of good equality practice and compliance with the equalities standard for local government.
This project is a fine example of good and responsive service that has benefited from being carried through thoroughly, with proper contact made base approach.
Diversity Awards 2005
Personal Achievement Award
In 2005 Jagjit Kohli, won the Personal Achievement Award. The award for the former Multicultural Librarian for Warwickshire County Council recognised her enthusiasm and professionalism.
Organisational Change Award
The Black County Libraries in Partnership (BCLiP) were the winners of the Organisational Change Award for their Basic ICT Skills (BITS) For All Project. The project created basic ICT packages, in community languages for use in Learning Centres across the four public library authorities within the Black Country.
Diversity Award 2005 winners (PDF - 90KB)
Last updated: 9 June 2010