[Click on speakers name for bio]

8:00-9:00
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION &
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST

9:00-10:00
DEFINITION OF DIVERSITY
Rm: Atlantic I & II

Program Title: The Library as a Reflection of the Diversity in Your
Community: Staffing, Organizational Climate, Services and Collections
Program Description: The research related to diversity in libraries reflects the comprehensive focus on the four key areas of staffing, organizational climate, services, and collections. While the discussion of specific segments of the population is relevant, there is the need to ensure a focus that reflects the valuing of diversity as an organizational and professional principle, consistent with the range of racial, ethnic, ability and other differences in the changing society. Such an approach, supported by the research, provides the opportunity to address the critical issues of equity and fairness, documented underrepresentation of minorities in the profession and women in senior management, in particular, and to ensure inclusive organizations, in general. The structure of the Diversity Conference reflects this comprehensive focus on the four aspects of diversity in libraries (staffing, organizational climate, services and collections), with presentations and facilitated discussions, and action plan development.
Speaker: Mark Winston, Rutgers SCILS

Program Title: Cultural Competencies: Serving Our Local Global Clientele
Program Description: Communicating effectively across cultures is a challenging endeavor. As ethnic diversity continues to increase in New Jersey, so does the need for library personnel to enhance our cultural competency skills in order to work effectively with the library’s own local global clientele. But –you may ask—how is it possible to become competent in all the many different cultures represented in my community? –And how will I know which skills to use when somebody walks in the door? Being culturally competent does not require that we know everything about every culture; it invites us, first and foremost, to understand our own.
Speaker: Ingrid Betancourt, Newark Public Library

Program Title: Ay Caramba: Library Services to Latinos & Spanish speakers
Program Description: With today's ever changing communities, libraries need to keep abreast of the most current trends and best practices for providing relevant and enduring library services. Participants will learn the "Who, What, When, Where, Why and How" approaches. Participants will see how "outreach" is the introduction and encouragement of library services and how "programs & services" translate community needs to library services to Spanish speaking communities.
Speaker: Salvador Avila, Las Vegas Public Library

10:00-10:45
KEYNOTE
Frank G. Bowe, Ph.D., LL.D., Hofstra University
Rm: Atlantic I & II

10:45-11:00
BREAK

11:00-12:15
PRESENTATIONS AND FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS
Rm: Room information based on Session

Session 1a: Best Practices in Recruitment & Retention
Rm: Oceanport North

Program Title: If You Build It They Will Come
Program Description: Rather than focusing on traditional recruitment practices , this session will engage participants in a forthright exchange about creating the type of environment which will attract diverse staff members. The necessity of creating partnerships with other professional and educational organizations will be examined along with ways of exploiting the power of newcomers to transform the organization , to ensure retention and to attract an increasingly diverse workforce.
Speaker: Lila Fredenburg, Princeton University Library
Salvador Avila, Las Vegas Public Library (Assisting)

Session 1b: Cultural Awareness & Communication
Rm: Oceanport South

Program Title: Working Effectively in a Multicultural Environment
Program Description: How many times have people come into your library requesting library cards who do not speak English? How many times have you been confronted with cultural conflicts in your library? In this training, you will explore cultural issues that come up within the library environment. Experiential activities will provide communication techniques for working through language barriers. You will also gain a greater understanding of how the immigration experience affects children and families and what you can do to reach out to their communities. Experiences from Jersey City Public Library will be shared.
Speakers: Nick Montalto & Mary Kay Jou, International Institute of New Jersey

Session 1c : External Partners
Rm: Seabright South

Program Title: You Can't Do It Alone: Developing Working Partnerships!
Program Description: To help a library to meet its diversity and outreach activities, the public library "can't do it alone," and must partner with other local, county and statewide agencies. This session will focus on developing outreach activities and ideas (both in the library and in the community) that utilize this partnership, in the areas of children's services, persons with disabilities, and older adults.
Speakers: Christine Lisiecki, NJ Library for the Blind & Handicapped, Allan Kleiman, (NJLA Special Populations Section), Westfield Memorial Library, Paula Lefkowitz, (NJLA Children's Services Section), Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library

Session 1d: Outreach to Immigrant Community
Rm: Seabright North

Program Title: Helping Immigrants Realize Their Dreams through Understanding and Collaboration
Program Description: New Jersey’s foreign-born population increased 53 percent
during the 1990s, accounting for 75 percent of the state’s overall population increase during the decade. Foreign-born residents now comprise 18 percent of the total state population, higher than the national average of 11 percent. This program will identify and describe the key components for developing a Library service to immigrants and refugees, based on The American Place, a prototype program for Hartford's ethnically diverse immigrants and recent arrivals.

In 2000, Hartford Public Library began The American Place program as a response to the needs of immigrants, refugees, and other new arrivals. Our goal is to help the community adjust to life in America while preserving elements of their native culture. The program focuses on: educating and empowering the immigrant community about their legal and civil rights; educating immigrants about the American system, and citizenship preparation; promoting intercultural understanding and communication between community service providers and immigrants; and assisting those with limited English proficiency.
Speaker: Homa Naficy, Hartford Public Library

Program Title: Reaching Immigrant Populations: Serving the Culturally & Linguistically Diverse: The New Americans Program Model
Program Description: Queens County, one of the five boroughs of New York City, is the most ethnically diverse county of the United States, with 46% of its population of 2.2 million born outside the U.S., and almost 54% speaking a language other than English at home. For over 25 years, Queens Library’s New Americans Program has been serving a constantly renewing flow of newcomers whose first language is not English. Participants will learn how to create a successful outreach program for immigrants through the use of ongoing community analysis, cultural programming, coping skills workshops and targeted popular collections in international languages. The face of the country is changing and immigrants are settling in suburban and rural areas as well as in cities. This presentation will help you to be proactive so that you are ready to welcome your new customers with programs and services that they need and want.
Speaker: Fred Gitner, Queens Borough Public Library

12:15-1:15
LUNCH
Rm: Ocean View Dining Room

1:15-2:15
Connecting People, Building Community
Rm: Atlantic I & II

Program Description: 1st Place Winner of the 2004 American Library Association Diversity Fair, Orlando, Fla., the Ocean County Library is in perpetual transformation. As an organization the Library respects, honors and celebrates individual and cultural diversity and this commitment is reflected throughout collections, programming, outreach, staff training policies and personnel practices. This presentation will highlight development, implementation and share community stories concerning the continuing journey of the Ocean County Library’s Diversity Initiative.
Speakers: Elaine McConnell, Marvelene Beach, Valerie Bell, Deborah Blackwell, Cathi Finnen, Ocean County Library System

2:30-3:30
DEVELOPING AN ACTION PLAN
Rm: Room information based on Session

Each session opens with a brief overview by an expert(s) in the field. In the remaining time, each participant will develop an action plan that identifies a goal, targeted population, and defines specific steps and resources to achieve that goal. Facilitators will be present in each session to assist participants.

Session 2a: Staffing
Rm: Oceanport North
Facilitator: Lila Fredenburg, Princeton University Library

Session 2b: Training
Rm: Oceanport South
Facilitators: Elaine McConnell, Deborah Blackwell, Cathi Finnen, Ocean County Library System

Session 2c: Outreach
Rm: Seabright North
Facilitators: Salvador Avila, Las Vegas Public Library, Len LoPinto, Paramus Public Library, Ingrid Betancourt, Newark Public Library

Session 2d: Collections
Rm: Seabright South
Facilitators: Fred Gitner, Queens Borough Public Library

3:40-4:00
CLOSING COMMENTS
from Norma Blake, New Jersey State Librarian
EVALUATION, RAFFLE PRIZES
Rm: Atlantic I & II