Table of Contents

Policies
Programs
Reports
Articles
Museum Studies
Bibliographies
Helpful Information

Policies

Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Diversity Initiatives
This document explains how ARL Diversity Initiatives support efforts within research libraries to promote and develop library staff and library leaders who are representative of America 's diverse population. http://www.arl.org/diversity/

Gay and Lesbian Policy Guidelines for Museum Programs and Practice (AU)
This document arose out of Museums Australia’s efforts to include traditionally marginalized communities in museums. It promotes the inclusion of gay and lesbian communities in museum work for legal, moral, educational and financial reasons. It includes specific recommendations for collections managers, educators, and public programmers (including exhibitions staff). Also included: advice on avoiding generalizing or clumping gay and lesbian communities, proper structuring of museum relations, project management necessities, and tips for staff training.
http://www.museumsaustralia.org.au/dbdoc/culturaldiv.pdf

Museums and Cultural Diversity: Policy Statement (ICOM)
In 1997, the ICOM (International Council of Museums) Working Group on Cross-Cultural Issues presented this document to the ICOM Executive Council, offering a recommended action plan for ICOM to address issues with cross cultural dimensions. A history of ICOM’s work on the topic grounds the document and provides an international look at the changing ways that museums are responding to their communities.
http://icom.museum/diversity.html

Museums Australia Incorporated Cultural Diversity Policy (AU)
May 2002 statement by Museums Australia. This document defines fundamental rights of multiculturalism, including the right to have diverse cultures preserved and interpreted. The areas of collection development, public programs, accessibility, human resources and governance are discussed as specific areas where museums can further engage in multiculturalism.
http://www.museumsaustralia.org.au/dbdoc/culturaldiv.pdf

Museums Australia Women’s Policy Guidelines for Museums Programs and Practice (AU)
This document outlines the ways in which women are disadvantaged in museums and offers strategies to address gender imbalances in areas of representation and employment.
http://www.museumsaustralia.org.au/dbdoc/women.pdf

Responding to Cultural Diversity: Guidance for Museums and Galleries (UK)
This document offers an overview of “best practices” in museums for embracing diversity in staffing, training, and community accountability, and more.
http://www.mla.gov.uk/resources/assets//M/mgc_cultdiv_pdf_8036.pdf

Association of Research Libraries Diversity Leadership and Career Development Program
The LCDP is an 18-month program to prepare mid career librarians from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups to take on increasingly demanding leadership roles in ARL libraries. ARL sponsors the LCDP to address the needs of research libraries for a more diverse professional workforce that can contribute to library success in serving increasingly diverse scholarly and learning communities.  http://www.arl.org/diversity/lcdp/index.html

Association of Research Libraries Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce
The ARL Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and ARL member libraries, offers a stipend of up to $10,000 to attract students from underrepresented groups to careers in academic and research libraries. These stipends can be coupled with any other financial aid to provide an extra incentive for completing library school as well as providing the opportunity to work in an ARL library upon graduation. This initiative reflects the commitment of ARL members to create a diverse academic and research library community that will better meet the new challenges of global competition and changing demographics. http://www.arl.org/diversity/init/index.html

Association of Science and Technology Centers Equity and Diversity Initiative
Approved by the Association of Science and Technology Center’s (ASTC) Board of Directors in October of 2001, ATSC’s Equity and Diversity Initiative outlines the organization’s leadership role in promoting diversity and encourages member organizations to explore and promote sustainable diversity. This website outlines the history of the initiative, ASTC’s vision and priorities and anticipated outcomes. Key terms such as diversity and cultural competency are also defined.
http://www.astc.org/resource/access/mission.htm

National Park Service Cultural Resources Diversity Initiative
The National Park Service’s (NPS) Diversity Initiative has guided the Cultural Resources Diversity Program for several years. The program has grown to encompass an extensive internship program and several publications on interpreting diverse historic sites. Goals for the program are outlined along with internship information and descriptions of current research.
http://www.cr.nps.gov/crdi/diversityNPS/intro.htm

Texas Association of Museums Multicultural Action Plan
In 1989 TAM first addressed the necessity for inclusive practices in Texas museums. The resulting publication, Action Plan: Multicultural Initiatives in Texas Museums (1995) outlined the importance for every Texas museums to recognize, embrace, and promote the state’s diverse cultural heritage and demographic population. The initiative has been converted into an extensive online resource offering tools for institutional self-assessment of diversity, a diversity glossary, and examples of inclusive practices in member museums, among other features.
http://www.io.com/~tam/multicultural/actionplan.html

Reports

A Business Case for Diversity
American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) document outlining the need for public service institutions to diversify in order to remain financially stable and culturally meaningful in the twenty-first century.
http://www.aza.org/AboutAZA/ComDiversity/Documents/BusinessCase.pdf

A New Audience for a New Century
This is a report by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts on efforts to diversify their audience, specifically focusing on families with young children and African-Americans. Research methodology is provided in detail, and new marketing efforts that were inspired by focus group sessions are documented.
http://www.artsmia.org/new_audience.pdf

Director’s Order #75A: Civic Engagement and Public Involvement
Articulates and justifies the National Park Service’s committment to civic engagement as a mechanism for ensuring public support of and participation in the institution’s preservation efforts. Defines roles and responsibilities of various institutional leaders in promoting and advancing civic engagement. Additional resources for advancing civic engagement and public involvement are referenced in the document’s appendix.
www.nps.gov/policy/DOrders/DO75A.pdf

Disability Directory for Museums and Galleries (UK)
Directory produced by the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries (UK), outlining principles of best practice and the necessity for approaching existing and potential users for consulting purposes when developing and designing for accessibility. The report focuses on accommodating visitors with physical, sensory, speech, mental and language impairments, and learning disabilities.
http://www.mla.gov.uk/resources/assets//D/disdir_pdf_6877.pdf

Embracing Cultural Diversity and Social Inclusion: South West Museums (UK)
In 2003, SWMLAC, supported by The Council for Museums, Archives, and Libraries, published Embracing Cultural Diversity and Social Inclusion: South West Museums as a resource to promote inclusive practices in museums. Based in part on a major survey assessing the state of diversity in South West museums, and in part on case studies of successful inclusion, the document offers recommendations for addressing cultural and social diversity in museums. An action plan suggests several ways for encouraging inclusive practices within museums, and cultivating better community relationships.
http://www.swmlac.org.uk/docs/cultural-diversity-redux.pdf

Energised, Engaged, Everywhere: Older Australians and Museums (AU)
Report of a 2002 collaborative study developed and managed by the National Museum of Australia. The document reports on the needs and expectations of older visitors, and lists over forty things that museums can do to attract and satisfy an older clientele.
http://www.amonline.net.au/amarc/pdf/research/fullreport.pdf

Engaging Our Communities
Report of a 2004 study initiated by the Yale Peabody Museum and based on work of the evaluation firm Randi Korn & Associates that looks at how this museum can engage museum audiences that are truly representative of the community.  http://www.peabody.yale.edu/contact/pdfs/ypmEOCproject.pdf

Libraries, Museums, Galleries, and Archives for All (UK)
January 2001 report of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in the United Kingdom. The document examines how libraries, museums, galleries, and archives can address social exclusion. Sets out policy objectives and an action plan for using libraries, museums and galleries as agents for social change.
http://www.culture.gov.uk/PDF/libraries_archives_for_all.pdf

Museums and Social Justice: How Museums and Galleries Can Work For Their Whole Communities (UK)
Publication of the Scottish Museum Council, addressing ways in which museums can and have made an impact in the arena of social justice. The document highlights the potential of museums for tackling inequalities and disadvantage.
http://www.scottishmuseums.org.uk/pdfs/Publications/Museums_and_Social_Justice.pdf

Museumworkers.Org
Webpage of Therese Quinn based on work towards a doctoral degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The site contains information about her project to document the stories of diverse museum workers, including the survey used and responses collected.
www.museumworkers.org

Norweigan Museums and the Multicultural Challenge - Principles and Practices in Exhibition and Education (Norway)
Report by Per Bjørn Rekda on the incorporation of multiculturalism in Norwegian museums. Incorporates case studies of success, and provides definitions, such as the differences between “international” and “multicultural.”
http://www.abm-utvikling.no/publisert/fulltekst/nmu3-2001/index.html

Society of American Archivists Taskforce on Diversity Final Report to SAA Council
Report of the Society of American Archivists Task Force on Diversity outlining important aspects of diversity for the organization, internal mechanisms for addressing diversity, and a report on the “cost/benefits” tradeoff of addressing diversity.
http://www.archivists.org/governance/taskforces/diversity_final.asp

South West Museums, Libraries, and Archives Council Social-Impact Audit (UK)
SWMLAC report on the impact of museums, libraries and archives in promoting social cohesion, fostering social inclusion and encouraging lifelong learning. Data was collected using a do-it-yourself audit technique, which the organization highly recommends for engaging stakeholders and informing policy makers. Methodology is provided for those wishing to undertake similar social impact audits.
http://www.swmlac.org.uk/docs/social-impact-audit.pdf

“Willful Neglect: The Smithsonian Institution and Latino Populations”
Conclusions and recommendations of the Smithsonian Institution Task Force on Latino Issues presented in 1994. Emphasis is on areas that cut across issues and organizational boundaries.
http://latino.si.edu/latinsitio/Nwillful.htm

Articles

“An Introduction to Diversity’s Importance for Museums”
This article by Tania Said and John Suau, published in NemaNews in the Summer of 2002, encourages museums to value diversity as a method for better serving their visitors. Ideas for beginning the process of embracing diversity at the museum level are outlined, as are steps for beginning to develop a diversity plan. Further readings are recommended.
http://www.nemanet.org/nemanews-SUM02.htm

"Attitudes of Ethnic Minority Populations toward Museums and Galleries" (UK)
A summary of Eilean Cooper-Greenhill’s report on the opinions of ethnic minorities in the UK on museums is available online. The summary outlines respondents’ desires to see their own lives and cultures reflected in the museums, general feeling of museums interpreting objects from "white" perspective, and desires for acquisition labeling. .
http://www.gem.org.uk/pubs/news/culture1998.html

“Can I Hear That in Colour” (UK)
The North West Film Archive carried out an investigation, led by people with visual or hearing impairments, on improving accessibility to its collection. The report, Can I hear that in Colour?, is available online as a summary or in its entirety.
http://www.nwfa.mmu.ac.uk/colour.pdf

“Challenges of Diversity”
After two decades of conversations working toward addressing diversity in the museum field, Lonnie Bunch identifies in this speech to the Joyce Board of Directors five major challenges to moving “beyond the beachhead.”
http://www.joycefdn.org/programs/culture/content/zspots/lonniebunch.html

“Confronting Demographic Denial: Retaining Relevance in the New Millennium”
Eric J. Jolly’s article from the ASTC New Dimensions newsletter. Based in the aftermath of 9/11/2001 and increasing immigrant populations, Jolly argues that there is a need for “sustainable diversity” in museums. He bases this concept on four elements: awareness, knowledge, skills and practice and identifies several paths through which to engage diverse communities.
http://www.astc.org/pubs/dimensions/2002/jan-feb/jolly.htm

Gender Bias: Representations of Work in History Museums
Gaby Porter’s 1990 essay on gender bias in museums, focusing on attitudes of “positivisim” which cause museum workers to overly portray women in passive and domestic roles. Porter calls for changes in the ways material culture is collected and organized.
http://wwwmcc.murdoch.edu.au/ReadingRoom/3.1/Porter.html

Museum Studies

Acquiring Excellence and Equity: Attracting Students of Color to Museum Graduate Programs
Article by Tara White, a Museum consultant in Montgomery, Alabama on attracting students of color to museum studies programs. Draws heavily on the year 2000 AAM Annual Meeting session “Diversifying the Curriculum: What Museum Studies Professionals Need to Know and Do in the 21st Century.”
http://www.nyu.edu/education/art/res_report_3.html

Masters Degree Program in International Museum Studies (Sweden)
Information on the Goteberg, Sweden Museum Studies Program, aimed at international students and offered free of charge. The program aims to prepare students to create and work in international and intercultural museum environments.
http://www.museion.gu.se/museumstudies

“Transforming Museum Studies: Educating Museologists for Cultural Diversity” (CA)
Information on the diversity in museums course as taught by Lynne Teather at the University of Toronto in Canada. Includes information on the Canadian context, goals and structure of the course, and related readings.
http://www.utoronto.ca/mouseia/icom/TransformingMuseumStudies.html

Bibliographies

Archive, Library, and Museums – Selected Multicultural Resources
A collection of multicultural resources within the Archive, Library & Museum sector. This page contains both reports, articles and links to relevant institutions, and is meant to assist in the project Kompetanseutvikling for medarbeidere i kulturinstitusjoner, coordinated by the Norwegian Archives, Museum and Library Authority.
http://www.abm-utvikling.no/multikulturellkompetanse/abm_resources.html

Cultural Pluralism and Museums
Bibliography by Lynne Teather and Kelly Wilhelm, et al. A searchable database of publications related to cultural pluralism and museums.
http://66.46.139.212/ccm/CF_test/ocasi/index.html

Helpful Information About Diversity

Diversifying Grantmaking Organizations
Four New York grantmakers tell what they have learned and gained from inclusiveness and diversity (8/8/2003, NYRAG press release)
http://www.nyrag.org/press_release3759/press_release_show.htm?doc_id=191956

Facts about Employment Discrimination
Learn your responsibilities with this EEOC website resource. It covers such topics as racism, sexism, sexual harassment, age discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, and more.
http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/qanda.html

HireDiversity.Com
Leading online service for diversity recruitment, extensive resume database. Free to job-seekers.
http://www.hirediversity.com/

Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
Representing more than 175,000 members, the society’s mission is to serve the needs of HR professionals by providing essential and comprehensive resources. Multiple articles and resources are available for addressing diversity. Membership is required to access the site.
http://www.shrm.org/