{"id":32,"date":"2024-09-10T17:42:37","date_gmt":"2024-09-10T21:42:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bclaconnect.ca\/arc\/?page_id=32"},"modified":"2026-08-20T19:28:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T23:28:58","slug":"anti-racism-committee-members","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bclaconnect.ca\/arc\/anti-racism-committee-members\/","title":{"rendered":"Anti-racism Committee Members"},"content":{"rendered":"

All members are appointed for 2 years (aligned with BCLA board terms), with the exception of Board members, who will be replaced as their Board term ends. If members are unable to serve the entire term, vacancies will be filled on a rolling basis using a call for expressions of interest.<\/p>\n

Jane Jun, BCLA Director at Large, Committee Co-chair<\/h2>\n

I am the Southern Medical Program Librarian at UBC Okanagan, which is situated on the unceded, ancestral, and currently occupied lands of the Syilx Okanagan Nation (Kelowna). As an embedded librarian, I work closely with the medical program as well as Health and Exercise Sciences delivering instructional and research services and support, particularly for knowledge syntheses. I am an active member of the ALA and MLA and the CE & Programming Director at HLABC. I have a BEd and MLIS from UBC with a background in language education (EN, DE) and am currently learning nsyilxc\u0259n. I love book clubs and am currently one of the organizers for an anti-racism book club at our library. Please ask me about it!<\/p>\n

Shideh Taleban, Committee Co-chair<\/h2>\n

Shideh Taleban (she\/her) is an experienced library professional who has been living and working on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded lands of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the Skwxw\u00fa7mesh (Squamish) and s\u0259l\u0313\u00edlw\u0259ta\u0294\u026c (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, since immigrating from Iran in 2009. She earned her second MLIS degree from the University of British Columbia in 2015. Shideh has held various roles in different libraries throughout her career. Currently, she serves as the Library Services Coordinator for Community, Learning, and Access Services at the North Vancouver City Library. Her personal experience as an immigrant and her extensive training in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) enhance her contributions to this committee.<\/p>\n

Karleen Delaurier-Lyle<\/h2>\n

Karleen Delaurier-Lyle (she\/her) is the Information Services Librarian at Xwi7xwa Library; she is an Indigiqueer Anishinaabe and member of Berens River First Nation. She was born and raised on the unceded territory of the Syilx people.<\/p>\n

Maia Sinegal<\/h2>\n

Maia Sinegal (she\/her) works as a Library Assistant at the Sooke Branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library. She is grateful to live and work on the unceded, traditional territory of the T’Sou-ke nation, who take their name from the SEN\u0106O\u0166EN word for the Stickleback fish that live in the estuary of the river. Maia is relatively new to library work; however, in her three years of service she has been fortunate to be able to channel her passion for safety and DEI work into serving on the JOHS committee and an Employee Resource Group. Maia is an “American” biracial Black woman who has lived in \u201cCanada\u201d for seven years. Her perspective on life and work has been shaped by growing up as a third culture kid and working with animals, food, and customer service. She is delighted to take this opportunity to connect with the wider \u201cBC\u201d library community.<\/p>\n

Maki Cairns<\/h2>\n

Maki Cairns (she\/her) works as a library information clerk at Burnaby Public Library and a library assistant at New Westminster Public Library. She has been a grassroots, community organizer in the Filipino community for over 5 years focusing on gender and migrant issues. Maki is passionate about engaging with communities and empowering marginalized individuals through equipping them with knowledge and resources. She hopes to weave her grassroots, community organizing experience into libraries to create a more inclusive, welcoming space for marginalized groups.<\/p>\n

Sierra Cook<\/h2>\n

Sierra Cook (she\/her) is a Public Service Librarian for the Okanagan Regional Library. She is currently living on the unceded and traditional territory of the Syilx peoples of the Okanagan Nation, but her ancestry comes from the Interior Salish people, specifically the Li\u0301l\u0313wat Nation. Sierra has worked across the province, having spent time with the Cariboo Regional Library, Prince George Public Library, Thompson-Nicola Regional Library and now working in the Okanagan. Having worked in public libraries since she was a teenager, Sierra has touched many aspects of public library work from circulation, collection development, community engagement, and management. Her passion lies in Indigenization and reconciliation of public libraries.<\/p>\n

Sunita Lakhanpal<\/h2>\n

Sunita Lakhanpal (she\/her) is a multi-lingual, first generation Canadian who lives and works on the St\u00f3:l\u014d people’s traditional territory. As a Librarian of over 24 years, she is currently located at the Sardis Community Library. Dedicated to her role in promoting Community partnerships, Sunita collaborates with local organizations, creating programs that inform and reflect the growing diversity of the Fraser Valley. She is passionate about libraries, literacy and creating a welcoming environment for all Community members.<\/p>\n

Suzanne Rackover, BCLA President<\/h2>\n

Suzanne Rackover (she\/her) has been Director, Library & Academic Success Centre, and CAPER-BC at Langara College since February 2023. Prior to that she was University Librarian at Emily Carr University of Art + Design in Vancouver (2016-2023). Suzanne has been actively involved in a variety of professional organizations and consortia including being on the board of the BC Libraries Co-op, the Executive Board of the Art Libraries Society of North America (ARLIS\/NA), and two terms as President of the Council of Post Secondary Library Directors of BC (CPSLD). Originally from Montreal, Suzanne completed a Master of Library and Information Studies from McGill University and a Bachelor and Master of Art History from Concordia University.<\/p>\n

Rina Hadziev, BCLA Executive Director (ex officio)<\/h2>\n

Rina Hadziev (she\/her) is the Executive Director of the British Columbia Library Association; she is a white settler who lives and works in Victoria on the traditional territory of the l\u0259k\u0313\u02b7\u0259\u014b\u0259n Peoples, specifically the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. Rina has spent over 20 years in library leadership, primarily in public libraries, with a focus on collections, technical services, and accessibility. Rina\u2019s approach to her work is informed by both her professional experiences and her personal experiences growing up in a blue-collar family as the daughter and granddaughter of immigrants. Rina is passionate about advocating for libraries and library workers, and creating opportunities for people to connect, share, and support one another.<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

Previous Committee Members<\/h2>\n