The Massachusetts Library System is pleased to announce that we have contracted with ALA to provide our members with access to their live webinars.  These webinars are free to MLS members who register through our calendar.  Please do not register directly with ALA. Members who register directly with ALA are responsible for paying their registration fee. 

Please help us keep MLS sponsored training free for all members. If you are unable to attend the live webinar, please cancel your registration. A cancellation link can be found in your confirmation email, or you may contact Sarah Donnelly at sdonnelly@masslibsystem.org to cancel. 

Please note: This is a FOUR-PART webinar series taking place on Wednesdays, February 5, 12, 19, and 26. Please only register if you can attend all four parts. By registering here, you are registering for all four dates. 

Description

Create a more inclusive and equitable hiring process for academic librarians. The four-part “Toward Inclusive Academic Librarian Hiring” webcast series provides strategies for welcoming all job candidates, reducing barriers by centering invisible and visible identities, and transforming the hiring process at the organizational level with training for stakeholders, as well as a look at hiring under anti-DEI laws and policies.

Part One - Developing Inclusive Hiring and Onboarding Processes 
Wednesday, February 5, 2025 - 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Central (60 minutes)
Learn how the presenters revamped their hiring and onboarding processes to be more people-centered, fostering a greater sense of connection and ownership for new hires. This webcast details the implementation and results of these multi-stage processes, including how stakeholder feedback was incorporated. Discover actionable steps to implement similar improvements at your own organization.

Presenters: Sara Lowe, Associate Dean for Educational Services, Indiana University Indianapolis; Gary Maixner, User Experience Librarian and Liaison to Communication Studies, Indiana University Indianapolis; Kindra Orr, Assistant Dean for Administration and Organizational Development, Indiana University Indianapolis; Moderator: Kathryn Houk, Associate Professor and Undergraduate Medical Education Librarian, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), School of Medicine Library. 

Part Two - Incorporating Universal Design into The Hiring Process 
Wednesday, February 12, 2025 - 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Central (60 minutes)
Make your library's hiring process more inclusive for librarians with disabilities. Explore how to incorporate Universal Design (UD) principles into academic librarian searches, offering flexibility in where, when, and how the process occurs. The presenter will share their experience chairing a search committee for a tenure-track role, including the barriers faced and practical tips for overcoming them.

Presenter: Katie Quirin Manwiller, Education Librarian and Assistant Professor, West Chester University; Moderator: Jordan Nielsen, Associate Professor and the Head of Access Services, Middle Tennessee State University

Part Three - Training for Search Committees and Stakeholders 
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 - 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Central (60 minutes)
Explore how to establish intentional search committees and launch inclusive search processes before recruitment begins. Presenters will share their experiences building inclusive search cultures across diverse institutions and offer strategies for embedding equity and inclusion not just in hiring, but throughout library operations, centering these values for candidates, current staff, and future colleagues.

Presenters: Tarida Anantachai, Director, Talent Management, NC State University Libraries; Nicole Westerdahl, Research, Instruction, and Outreach Librarian, State University of New York at Oswego; Moderator: Jenny Wong-Welch, San Diego State University 

Part Four - Hiring under Anti-DEI Policies 
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 - 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Central (60 minutes)
The presenters will discuss the use of rubrics for evaluating faculty applicants' diversity statements. While these rubrics were initially implemented to ensure consistent evaluation and communicate organizational values, subsequent administrative policies and laws impacted their use. Presenters will examine the impact of these changes and share strategies for navigating the current landscape.

Presenters: Kelly Rhodes, Professor and the Coordinator of Information Literacy and Instruction in the University Libraries, Appalachian State University; Breanne Crumpton, Information Literacy Librarian for the Humanities, Appalachian State University; Mollie Peuler, Elearning Librarian, Appalachian State University; Moderator: Jenny Wong-Welch, San Diego State University 

Learning Outcomes

Part One

• Evaluate current hiring and onboarding processes against best practices.
• Adapt provided examples to develop inclusive hiring and onboarding processes that fit your institution's specific context.

Part Two

• Learn the principles of Universal Design for creating accessible hiring processes.
• Explore a practical case study demonstrating the application of Universal Design principles in a recent search process.

Part Three

• Develop strategies for establishing a reflective and intentional search committee culture.
• Recognize the importance of sustained inclusive practices throughout hiring, onboarding, and retention.

Part Four

• Learn to implement a norming rubric for effective evaluation of candidate diversity statements.
• Consider the impact of administrative and legislative changes on inclusive hiring practices and discover ways to support inclusive hiring practices.

Accessibility Information

If you have questions or need to make arrangements for additional assistance or accessibility, please contact Margot Conahan (mconahan@ala.org).