Empowering Individuals to Promote Tolerance in the

Academic Library:Research & PracticeJeff Knapp, Reference & Instruction Librarian

Penn State Altoona

Co-Authors: Loanne Snavely & Linda Klimczyk,

Penn State University Park

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Our Experience

Climate surveys 1996, 2001, 2007 showed common understanding of diversity,

but …

Preaching to the Choir…

Were programs reaching everyone they needed to reach?

Arm the Choir!

Empowerment: Offer training to “the Choir” so that they can resolve issues themselves

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Creating a Program

http://bit.ly/SpeakUP

Added some media…

Program Outline

• Strategies for responding• Discussion of barriers • Practice strategies

Group Discussion Example

A Chinese American woman was at a conference when another professional, who seemed genuinely interested in trying to get his Asian employees acclimated to working in the United States, asked her, “Do Asians have authoritarian leadership styles because of their governments?”

Our Experience

• Offered 8 times• 162 attendees to date• Word spread

Research: Effects of Racism

• “Microaggressions” (Sue, et al., 2007)

• “Racial Battle Fatigue” (Smith et al., 2007)

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Research: Conflict Resolution

“the ability of employees to work collaboratively requires individual ability to initiate, cultivate, and nurture positive cross-racial (and cross-cultural) interpersonal interactions and relationships.”

(Combs & Griffith, 2007)

U.S. National Archives

Research: Conflict Resolution

“Confronting Prejudiced Responses” Model (CPR) • Did she really just make that

remark?• Did she intend harm? • Should I say something? What?• What will happen if I say

something?(Ashburn-Nardo, et al.,

2008)

Your Questions

References

Ashburn-Nardo, L., Morris, K. A., & Goodwin, S. A. (2008). The Confronting Prejudiced Responses (CPR) Model: Applying CPR in Organizations. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 7(3), 332–342.

Combs, G. M., & Griffith, J. (2007). An Examination of Interracial Contact: The Influence of Cross-Race Interpersonal Efficacy and Affect Regulation. Human Resource Development Review, 6(3), 222–244.

Knapp, J. A., Snavely, L., & Klimczyk, L. (2012). Speaking Up: Empowering Individuals to Promote Tolerance in the Academic Library. Library Leadership & Management, 26(1). Retrieved from http://journals.tdl.org/llm/article/viewArticle/5508

References

Smith, W. A., Allen, W. R., & Danley, L. L. (2007). “Assume the Position . . . You Fit the Description.” American Behavioral Scientist, 51(4), 551–578.

Sue, D. W., Capodilupo, C. M., Torino, G. C., Bucceri, J. M., Holder, A. M. B., Nadal, K. L., & Esquilin, M. (2007). Racial Microaggressions in Everyday Life: Implications for Clinical Practice. American Psychologist, 62(4), 271–286.

Willoughby, B. (2005). Speak Up!: Responding to Everyday Bigotry. Montgomery, Ala.: Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved from http://www.splcenter.org/sites/default/files/downloads/publication/SPLCspeak_up_handbook_0.pdf