Wednesday, October 25, 2023 DEIA Meeting Minutes

Minutes

Wednesday October 25, 2023 - Minutes

McMaster University Libraries

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Committee

Wednesday, October 25, 2023
HYBRID (Mills Community Room OR TEAMS)

Present:

  • J. An
  • K. Ball
  • L. Banfield
  • L. Caravaggio
  • S. Goudarzi
  • V. Lewis (Chair)
  • J. Licata
  • J. McKinnell
  • C. McLeod
  • C. Nicol
  • L. Serviss
  • N. Waite

Regrets:

  • S. Rakovac

Minute Taker:

M. Hotson

  1. WELCOME

     

  2. QUICK UPDATES (30 minutes)

    1. Year of Gender and Justice

       

    The year of events and activities (Sept. 2023 – April 2024) is well underway. For details, please see: Year of Gender and Justice.

    Some highlights include:

    • Successful book launch: My Body is Distant by Paige Maylott (Sept. 26), for more information, see the Daily News story on Paige's book.
    • Showcase and curator’s talk for “Women of the Printing Trades & the Hand Press Era” (Oct. 5)
    • Event: “Born this Way: Unravelling Gender Identity in Youth” (MCYU - Oct. 19)
    • Upcoming: “Vital Frames” A Graphic Healthcare Display (till Dec. at HSL)

    • Upcoming: “50th Anniversary of Halfbreed” (Indigenous Studies Department & MUL - Nov. 17) Pre-registration required.

       

    1. IDEAL Conference

      • McMaster is one of nine university libraries co-hosting the IDEAL conference (July 15-17, 2024). Registration opens January 2024.
      • We are expecting approximately 700 people.

      • Noted that Jeannie sits on the programming committee (200+ submissions, 30-40 will be selected as final programming), Vivian sits on the planning committee for activities (reception tables/booths), and Laura sits on the logistics planning committee.

         

    2. INTERSECTIONAL IDENTITIES

      • The Canadian Association of Research Libraries' webinar series featuring Paige Maylott and Carly McLeod speaking about intersectional identities in research libraries is now available for viewing on YouTube.

         

    3. Other Updates

      • Laura Banfield will co-chair the Ontario Council of University Library (OCUL)’s TRC group – consider bringing the committee to McMaster for team building, sharing, etc.

      • The federal government published a list of Indigenous businesses - consideration for library spending.

         

  3. DISCUSSION: PREPARING TO RECEIVE THE DEIA STRATEGIST (45 minutes)

Our new DEIA Strategist (C. Mark) will take up her position on October 30, 2023. An onboarding plan is being created. Outstanding questions:

  • Meet key stakeholders:
    • Dr. Clare Warner,
    • Patricia Suleiman,
    • Arlene Dosen,
    • Kate Brown,
    • Nancy Waite,
    • UL, Staff Learning and Development Committee
  • The intention is to have our new colleague become the chair of DEIA. The group agreed that Vivian and Crystal would co-chair the November 20 meeting as a transition. Crystal will become the chair after the November 20 meeting.
  • How can we best bring our new colleague into our work?
    • Workplan - opportunity to discuss what we would like to do
    • Life of the Library (shadow) - learning by observing, what are the possibilities? (service interactions, teaching/instruction, student groups)
    • Physical tours of spaces (UL/HSL)
  • We've paused on the review of our recruitment practices over the last few months. Once our new colleague joins us, is this something we'd like her to step into as an early priority?
    • Onboarding Group Project - input to workflow and tasks
    • Recruitment toolkit - consider focus groups with recently hired staff
    • Recruitment subgroup (meet with Vivian/Jennifer/Chris)

    • Inclusive Culture subgroup (provide report to Crystal, future conversation for committee)

       

Future Meetings

  • Visit from Dr. Barrington Walker, McMaster's new VP, Equity & Inclusion

  • Update on the disaggregate employment equity census

     

Next Meeting

Monday, November 20, 2023, 1:00 – 2:30 PM

(HYBRID – MS Teams or Community Room)