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G2S Project Code:
2022-CA-92214
State:
California
Fiscal Year:
2022
Grantee
GLENDALE LIBRARY, ARTS AND CULTURE
Project Director
Director Name:
Hala Shonouda
Director Phone:
818-548-3313
Director Email:
hshonouda@Glendaleca.gov
General Information
Title:
Public Librarian Diversity Residency Program
State Project Code:
40-9331
Start Date:
07/01/2022
End Date:
09/30/2023
Abstract:
Glendale Library, Arts & Culture (GLAC) created two Residency positions for post-graduate Black, Indigenous and/or People of Color (BIPOC) librarians and provided professional job experience to BIPOC public librarians. The Diversity Residency Toolkit Residency Support Survey was administered to Resident Librarians on a monthly basis. Survey data showed that residents were most satisfied with career advancement opportunities (average 4.8 score across residents), inclusion (4.2), and professional development (4.2). Managers and mentors reported that their participation in the Public Librarian Diversity Residency Program has positively impacted their satisfaction with their work (average score of 4).
State Goal:
Goal 7: Skilled and Diverse Workforce
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$
100,000.00
$
0.00
$
172,069.00
$
272,069.00
Intent(s)
Improve the library workforce.
Library Infrastructure & Capacity
Continuing Education and Staff Development
Activities
Activity Details
Title:
Manager Training
Narrative:
The library provided formal training on mentoring, managing BIPOC staff, understanding microaggressions, and managing conflict in the workplace to library managers via an external consultant.
Intent:
Improve the library workforce.
Activity:
Instruction
Mode:
Presentation/performance
Format:
Combined in-person & virtual
Quantity
Presentation/performance length (minutes):
60
Number of presentations/performances administered:
1
Average number in attendance per session:
10
Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries:
Yes
Historical Societies or Organizations:
No
Museums:
No
Archives:
No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type:
No
Preschools:
No
Schools:
No
Adult Education:
No
Human Service Organizations:
No
Other:
No
Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government:
No
State Government:
No
Local Government (excluding school districts):
No
School District:
No
Non-Profit:
No
Private Sector:
No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization:
No
Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce:
Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population:
General
Locale
Is the activity state-wide:
No
Specific Locations:
Yes
Name: CITY OF GLENDALE LIBRARY, ARTS & CULTURE
Address: 222 E. HARVARD ST.
City: GLENDALE
State: CA
Zip: 91205
Activity Details
Title:
Steering Committee Survey
Narrative:
The Steering Committee tailored the Residency Support Survey created by the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) to the Public Librarian Diversity Residency and administered the survey on a monthly basis to Residents. Post-training surveys for managers, and monthly surveys for mentors and supervisors were also administered in order to assess the program and make consistent improvements. The library made efforts to encourage straightforward feedback, including anonymizing surveys and promoting the impact of critical feedback on the Public Librarian Diversity Residency and the profession as a whole.
Intent:
Improve the library workforce.
Activity:
Planning & Evaluation
Mode:
Retrospective
Format:
In-house
Quantity
Number of evaluations and/or plans funded:
1
Number of funded evaluation and/or plans completed:
1
Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries:
Yes
Historical Societies or Organizations:
No
Museums:
No
Archives:
No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type:
No
Preschools:
No
Schools:
No
Adult Education:
No
Human Service Organizations:
No
Other:
No
Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government:
No
State Government:
No
Local Government (excluding school districts):
No
School District:
No
Non-Profit:
No
Private Sector:
No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization:
No
Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce:
Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population:
Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group:
Urban
Suburban
For what age groups:
All Ages
For what economic types:
Economic Not Applicable
For what ethnicity types:
Ethnicity Not Applicable
Is the activity directed at families:
No
Is the activity directed at intergenerational groups:
No
Is the activity directed at immigrants/refugees:
No
Is the activity directed at those with disabilities:
No
Limited functional literacy or informational skills:
No
Is the activity category not already captured:
Yes: Residency Program Participants
Locale
Is the activity state-wide:
No
Specific Locations:
Yes
Name: CITY OF GLENDALE LIBRARY, ARTS & CULTURE
Address: 222 E. HARVARD ST.
City: GLENDALE
State: CA
Zip: 91205
Question 1: I believe the planning and evaluation addresses library needs.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 10
Question 2: I am satisfied with the extent to which the plan or evaluation addresses library needs.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 10
Question 3: I believe the information from the plan or evaluation will be applied to address library needs.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 10
Activity Details
Title:
Mentorship and Professional Development
Narrative:
Residents worked with mentors within the library during the grant period and participated in professional development activities to achieve the goals of the residency program. Mentors offered individualized support, advice, and guidance throughout the program outside of the supervisor-staff relationship. Mentors and Residents met monthly, created career development goals, discussed obstacles and successes, and tailored work to fit the Residents' needs. Participating Public Library Residents attended at least one conference and engaged in additional training.
Intent:
Improve the library workforce.
Activity:
Instruction
Mode:
Consultation/drop-in/referral
Format:
Combined in-person & virtual
Quantity
Total number of consultation/reference transactions:
9
Average number of consultation/reference transactions per month:
2
Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries:
Yes
Historical Societies or Organizations:
No
Museums:
No
Archives:
No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type:
No
Preschools:
No
Schools:
No
Adult Education:
No
Human Service Organizations:
No
Other:
No
Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government:
No
State Government:
No
Local Government (excluding school districts):
No
School District:
No
Non-Profit:
No
Private Sector:
No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization:
No
Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce:
Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population:
General
Locale
Is the activity state-wide:
No
Specific Locations:
Yes
Name: CITY OF GLENDALE LIBRARY, ARTS & CULTURE
Address: 222 E. HARVARD ST.
City: GLENDALE
State: CA
Zip: 91205
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
Glendale Library, Arts & Culture (GLAC) participated in a research study on the use and effectiveness of the Diversity Residency Toolkit in supporting institutional readiness for diversity residencies and enhancing the residency experience for residents. The Diversity Residency Toolkit Residency Support Survey was administered to Resident Librarians on a monthly basis. This survey measures mentorship, professional development, career advancement and inclusion in relation to individual agency or institutional support/funding, and the residents’ engagement/satisfaction. The tool is based on current literature on residencies and findings on factors that support Resident success. Residents rated their level of satisfaction on a scale of 1 to 5. Residents were most satisfied with career advancement opportunities (average 4.8 score across residents), inclusion (4.2), and professional development (4.2). These areas received higher scores to start, dipped briefly, and increased through the end of the grant period, ending with averages of 4.5 to 5 across residents. This likely indicates some initial excitement about the program, some level-setting as residents settled in and met the learning curve of their positions, followed by the organization meeting their expectations later on. Mentorship received a lower score (3.25), due to the mentor-mentee relationships not being established until later in the program, and the engagement/satisfaction, existence and support/funding aspects were rated zero for several months. However, after the establishment of the mentoring program, ratings for that area averaged 5, indicating a high level of satisfaction with mentors. Glendale Library, Arts & Culture (GLAC) created surveys for Public Librarian Diversity Residency managers and mentors to measure their impressions of residents’ mentorship, professional development, career advancement and inclusion, and to identify additional areas for support. Managers and mentors reported that their participation in the Public Librarian Diversity Residency Program has positively impacted their satisfaction with their work (average score of 4) and that people in the organization were prepared to work with a resident from an underrepresented group (4). They were satisfied with the trainings the resident received and the resident’s ability to find a place on the team (3.7). They were least satisfied with the input the resident has had in selecting projects and with their own preparation to fill their role in the program (3.3). Mentors requested more resources on mentoring in this specific context, and supervisors requested an on-boarding/orientation guide for all staff, that could be tailored to the Public Librarian Diversity Residency Program.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
At the end of the grant period, the Public Librarian Diversity Residency Program appears to be successful. Residents reported a high level of satisfaction with the program, indicating that the program is desired and being implemented well. Mentors requested more resources on mentoring in this specific context, and supervisors requested an on-boarding/orientation guide for all staff, that could be tailored to the residency program; these resources are now in development
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
The most significant lessons learned to date are that hiring for the Public Librarian Diversity Residency Program requires careful pre-planning with Human Resources staff. The recruitment process usually takes 3 months, but the challenges of a position type new to GLAC (which required Civil Service Commission approval prior to recruitment) and a non-traditional recruitment approach created delays resulting in the Public Librarian Diversity Residency residents not starting work until February 2023. The Public Librarian Diversity Residency was created specifically to support librarians who are BIPOC. At the same time, employers are legally prohibited from making employment decisions based on race. The project upheld all applicable California state laws and federal regulations. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission states that hiring practices intended to bring on more minority candidates must be designed “to break down old patterns of segregation and hierarchy and to overcome the effects of past or present practices, policies, or other barriers to equal employment opportunity.” The goal of the Public Librarian Diversity Residency was prominently included in the postings to help attract applicants who fit the program. The library did not bar anyone from applying, ask any illegal screening questions, or screen out applicants based on race. The other lesson GLAC can share is the importance of a constant improvement approach to inclusion, diversity, equity and antiracism work. GLAC plans to return to the Diversity Residency Toolkit’s pre-residency checklist for institutions regularly to re-assess the climate, practices and plans
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
Yes
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort in managing this project:
No
Explain:
Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
No
Explain:
Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
Yes
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
Yes
Can the final written evaluation report be shared publicly on the IMLS website:
Yes
Was the evaluation conducted by project staff (either SLAA or local library) or by a third-party evaluator:
Project Staff
What data collection tools were used for any report outcomes and outputs:
Review Surveys
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Statistical Methods
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
Targeted Sample – We selected based on a desired characteristic, e.g. age.
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:
No comparison for any reported output or outcome:
Exemplary:
No
Exemplary Narrative
Project Tags:
bipoc, library workforce, Training
