BCLA’s Community-Led Interest Group [CLIG] has organized Community Development Days in order to start the discussion about community development and related topics in an informal setting, with the purpose of knowledge sharing and learning from speakers’ experiences. This free, two-day event is open to all library workers and students from BC and other provinces and territories.
Community Development Days will take place on February 24 and 25, from 10.00 am – 3.00 pm. Courtesy of BCLA, this event will be hosted over BCLA’s Zoom account.
Registration is now closed.
February 24, 2022
- Session One, 10.00 am – 12.00 pm:
What is Community-Led Librarianship?
Have you ever wondered what the term “community-led librarianship” means in practice? Join our conversation about what community-led work is like, and what it isn’t, at some local public library systems. Learn about the journeys our libraries have taken to better serve our communities. Led by an adjunct instructor who teaches community development at UBC’s iSchool and by a community development specialist.
Speakers:
Ann Johannes: Ann is the Community Development Supervisor with the Coquitlam Public Library (CPL). She oversees all the outreach for CPL, including Home Delivery Service, Mobile Library Bus, and Outreach Vehicle, and sits on a variety of community tables.
Jorge Cardenas: Jorge Cardenas is the Chief Librarian at the New Westminster Public Library.
- Session Two, 1.00 – 3.00 pm:
EDI and Anti-Racism in Libraries
This session will provide an overview of key concepts, challenges, and strategies relating to equity, diversity, inclusion, and racism/anti-racism in libraries. We’ll also learn about one of the speaker’s work as part of the Anti-Racism Working Group at Burnaby Public Library, discussing the process of organising an internal anti-racism climate audit and next steps as an organisation. Lessons learned and things to keep in mind for libraries starting this work, and how this connects to a better community-led work will be covered. There will be time to ask questions and have discussion after both presentations, and space to share resources collectively at the end of the session.
Speakers:
Leila Meshgini: Leila is a first-generation Iranian-Canadian settler on xwməθkwəy̓əm, Skwxwú7mesh, and Səlí̓lwətaʔ lands. She is the EDI Coordinator at Impact North Shore, and has a background in community librarianship.
Emily Guerrero: Emily is a Librarian and Archivist living on the unceded territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm, Skwxwú7mesh, and Səlí̓lwətaʔ Nations. They work at Burnaby Public Library.
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February 25, 2022
- Session Three, 10.00 – 12.00 pm:
No-Nonsense Tips for Community Outreach: Connecting with Multicultural and Rural Communities
Our culturally diverse communities are not a new phenomenon. So why are there still issues about connecting with them? Join Ravi Basi for a frank conversation about connecting with multicultural communities: by speaking up, taking responsibility, and meaningful action.
Rural libraries are critical for small communities, providing services that are often unavailable elsewhere. Join Saara Itkonen as she talks about the reality and potential of BC’s rural libraries and how community librarianship is the only way to do business when everyone knows everyone else.
Speakers:
Ravi Basi: Ravi is Manager of Multicultural Services at Surrey Libraries. She was born in India, grew up in England and immigrated to Canada over 40 years ago. She graduated from UBC with her Masters in Library Science in 1985.
Ravi oversees immigrant and newcomer services at Surrey Libraries and has been involved with outreach, programs, collections and advocacy for Surrey’s culturally diverse communities for 30 years. Her work also involves anti-racism and cross-cultural education and related initiatives such as Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
Ravi’s passion for multicultural services is fueled by her own family’s experiences as immigrants in England and Canada, as well as the belief that ongoing education, dialogue, meaningful actions, and self- reflection are key factors in promoting intercultural understanding. Libraries have a responsibility to define their role in this process if they are truly inclusive and socially progressive.
Saara Itkonen: Saara is the current Director of Creston Valley Public Library in the Kootenay region of BC. Previous to taking over this role in 2018, Saara spent 9 years working as a Children’s and Teen Librarian at Vancouver Public Library. She has a particular passion for working in communities to remove barriers to library services.
- Session Four, 1.00 – 3.00 pm:
Working with Library Structures, Staff, Processes and Management
How do you get buy-in for community work from your library? How do you advocate for resources with management? How do you get staff excited about this work? How do you make community connection a core part of what your library does? Join a conversation between Beth Davies and Ariel Caldwell as they discuss ways to work within library structures and connect meaningfully with the communities the library serves.
Speakers:
Ariel Caldwell: Ariel is an Acting Assistant Manager in Vancouver Public Library’s Programming and Learning Department. Most recently, she spent 7 years as a Teen Services Librarian, engaging with youth in Vancouver’s northeast quadrant and building connections with community partners. Her relationships were fundamental to starting Connection to Kith and Kin (an Indigenous genealogy program). She taught Services for Young Adults at UBC’s iSchool in 2018, and received the Community Recognition Award from the Pacific Community Resources Society in 2019.
Beth Davies: Beth is Chief Librarian of Burnaby Public Library. Previous to taking on this role in 2016, she was in leadership roles at Vancouver Public Library, including Neighbourhood Services Manager and Head of the Carnegie Branch. She has worked in public libraries since 1999. Beth was a Board member of PovNet from 2009 to 2016. She is passionate about the critical role that public libraries play in connecting with communities, in making our library spaces accessible to all community members, and in meaningfully engaging with communities outside our walls to provide relevant and responsive service.
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For questions about the event and to register after February 21, please contact Shideh Taleban at [email protected].
For questions about registration, email [email protected].