21-22 LTS Annual Report

STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION 7 Continuedpromoting the use of live captions in all Zoom sessions to increase the accessibility of synchronous classes, meetings, and events for all participants. Held sessions on Universal Design for Learning to assist faculty in the design anddevelopment of instructional resources, assignments, and assessments that helpoptimize learning for all students. Expanded the OverDrive Library, including three new collections in celebrationof Black Excellence, TransDay of Visibility, and JewishAmericanHeritageMonth. OverDrive currently has 12 collectionswithover 600 individual titles that focus ondiverse voices and lived experiences. Provided expert assistance for Soaring Together: Celebrating LehighWomen and 50 Years of Coeducation, including a Linderman exhibit collaborationwith theCenter for Gender Equity, andZoellner Arts Center 25th anniversary celebrations. Continued to workwith community partners, sourcingour developinggraphic novel collection fromlocal seller Encounter Comics; co-sponsoring a poetry programwith LUAG, Notations, and LehighValley poetry collectiveBasement Poets; andhosting localmiddle schoolers investigating an “Exploring Bethlehem” theme. Extended access to the Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE), a STEM learningplatform, to local high schools. Continuedour metadata headings reviewproject. This includes updating terminology and enhancingmetadata to aid in access toDEI collections. Implemented the acceptance of UTF-8 characters inBanner and launched the ChosenName capability to ensure students and staff can identify their chosenor preferredname. Taught seminars designed tohelp faculty and staff create inclusive experiences, includingAccessible Teaching and Universal Design for Learning, Easy Accessibility: Tips for Content Creators, and Intro toWebAccessibility. Begannew initiatives towardmaking the library amore welcomingplace, withprograms such as a crafting circle in partnershipwith theCenter for Gender Equity and a St. Valentine's Day celebration. Additionally, the libraries have begun integrating "creation stations"—withpuzzles and art supplies fromclay to crayons—across various spaces to facilitate rest time amidst intensive study. Hosted Coffee andConversations inNovember where colleagues have a safe space togather andhave some conversation. LUAGArt Exploration: Our staff enjoyed a guided tour of the exhibitionYoung, Gifted andBlack on view in the LUAGMain Galleries inZoellner Arts Center, followedby hands-on experience inspiredbyworks of Chiffon Thomas, ledby local artist RebeccaKelly, inMarch. Held an Intercultural CommunicationsWorkshop, a collaborationwith theOffice of FellowshipAdvising inOIA focusedonbuilding a foundational knowledge on varied communication styles andmethods in thework environment, in June. The LTSD&I Committee organized an LTSgroup attendance at a performance of Fences, a 1985 play by American playwright AugustWilson that explores race relations and African-American experience inPennsylvania in the 1950s. Part of thePennsylvania Shakespeare Festival at DeSales University, held inAugust. Welcomed the campus community to FML inMarch to celebrate the openingof the EasternPA Trans Equity Project's Trans Stories exhibit on Transgender Day of Visibility. LTSwas selected to receive the Pride Center's 2022Outstanding Initiative Award for our role inbringing the exhibit to campus. Completed a year-longproject on LTS diversity hiring, ledby our Administrative Services Group.We revampedhiringprocedures andguidelines to promote values of equitable searchparameters and to attractmore broadly diverse hiringpools. LTS DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION EVENTS 26 | L I BRARY AND TECHNOLOGY SERV I CES UNDERSTAND. RESPECT. Celebrate. LTS STAFF:

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