Diversity and Equality Award 2021

Community, Diversity and Equality Group is relaunching the Diversity and Equality Award for 2021. Following the difficult time everyone has had due to Covid, the Group feels that it should do something to celebrate and recognise the outstanding work individuals and teams in the library sectors have been doing to help wider society.

Library workers in all sectors have a crucial role in contributing to social justice. As outlined in CILIP's "Changing Lives" document, "they should proactively advocate for and promote inclusive, participatory and socially-engaged library, knowledge and information services".

The Diversity and Equality Award is made by CILIP's Community, Diversity and Equality Group (CDEG) and aims to recognise outstanding achievement in the promotion of equality and or diversity. It is given to an individual or team who has shown commitment to the advancement of equality and or diversity within a library or information setting.

In 2018, the Diversity Award was awarded to Diversity in Libraries of the North (DILON) and to the Learning Resources team at Bridgwater and Taunton College for their project: Conversation Café – Promotion of Diversity and Multicultural Blending. In 2016, the award went to eBook Accessibility audit project group – Leeds Beckett University and UCLan Library Services Team - University of Central Lancashire Project – Reading Lists Online Alternative Formats. In both years, individuals were also awarded for their personal work in promoting diversity with their services and the profession.

Criteria and Judging for the Award

• This Award is open to any individual or team, working in the library and information profession, in whatever sector.
  
• Individuals or teams may put themselves forward, but a CILIP Member must support their entry.
  
• CILIP Members (with the support of another Member) may also nominate individuals or teams for this Award.

Download the Application Form.

Applications will close on Friday 29 October 2021.

If you need further advice on entering, please contact Karen Berry, Community Diversity Equality Group.

Email: treasurer.cdeg@cilip.org.uk

Diversity Award 2018

Three entries were highly commended in the group's Diversity Awards 2018, which were announced on Wednesday 17th October at Ridgmount Street.
The awards recognize outstanding achievement in the promotion of diversity and commitment to the advancement of diversity within a library or information setting. We were delighted to celebrate and acknowledge the impact of three particular entries for this year's award, which demonstrate diversity and equality remains central to all library, knowledge and information services.


Jen Bayjoo and the DILON Network

Jen Bayjoo founded the DILON (Diversity In Libraries Of the North) network as a voice for those in the library and information profession who identify as BAME, POC, or non-white. In a relatively short space of time DILON has become a high profile, influential presence online and offline.  DILON aims "to advocate for diversity in libraries in the north of England; to provide a safe space for minorities to discuss their experiences; to advise conferences and events about diverse panels and speakers; to showcase the work of its members; to act without pretension or exclusion and to encourage and support its members and the wider library community."

Learning Resources team at Bridgwater and Taunton College

The Conversation Café at the College is a weekly drop-in initiative that promotes diversity and multicultural blending by enabling attendees to practise speaking English over a cup of tea or coffee in a social yet educational environment. It helps foreign speakers feel less isolated, integrate better into the local community and make new friends.  In 2016 the College expanded the initiative into the public library in Taunton, enabling more attendees to benefit from this initiative.

Emily Macaulay - Centre Manager, Exeter Library

Emily received an MBE in 2015 for services to equality and diversity and ensures Exeter Library is inclusive, offering a range of services for the whole community.  In particular Emily was nominated for her dedication and inspirational work keeping Exeter Library open during the extreme weather of March 2018, when snow shut down buildings and transport across Exeter City, apart from the library. Emily kept the library open as normal, with limited staffing (at one point single-handed) offering a safe, welcoming, warm space for all those needing shelter.

 Photo: Bridgewater and Taunton College Library team accepted their certificate from CDEG Chair David Percival (left) and Russel Barrow of Hertfordshire Libraries

Diversity Award 2016

Matthew Reynolds, Head of Membership and Libraries Disability Officer at University College London was presented with the Diversity Award at CILIP HQ, Ridgmount Street on Wednesday 14th September and was congratulated at the group's Annual general meeting.