Serving communities: A framework for inclusion-centered library leadership development

Cornerstones of Science / 11 September 2024

The Serving Communities suite of tools, developed by Cornerstones of Science, allow library directors to discover, reflect, and act upon critical inclusion-centered leadership skills and competencies. The tools include a framework, glossary, and self-paced modules.

The five self-paced modules, are directly based on the four dimensions outlined in the Framework. These modules are designed to enhance inclusion-centered leadership skills, attitudes, and practices for engaging adults in the co-development of actionable science resources, supports, and services that the community wants and needs, particularly underserved community members. The Framework and curriculum are freely available here as well as on the Cornerstones of Science website.

The Serving Communities Framework and curriculum include:

Serving Communities: A Framework for Inclusion-centered Library Leadership Development	Designed for library directors to: Determine current inclusion-centered skills, attitudes and practices around actionable science for adult learners Visualize aspirations for themselves, their library and their community Help able to define success and pathway forward for creating a more inclusion-centered library.
Serving Communities: A Glossary for an Inclusive Library	A guide for library directors to: Increase awareness of harmful language commonly used within the library profession Intentional use of a shared language and word choices that being to create trust and respect needed for real collaboration.
Serving Communities: Three Stories: Inclusion-centered Leadership in Action	Highlights the leadership lessons learned and the reflections of three senior library leaders and their key partners in their work as they strive to create sustainable inclusion-centered libraries.

Serving Communities: A Framework for Inclusion-centered Library Leadership Development

Designed for library directors to:

Determine current inclusion-centered skills, attitudes and practices around actionable science for adult learners
Visualize aspirations for themselves, their library and their community
Help able to define success and pathway forward for creating a more inclusion-centered library.

Serving Communities: A Glossary for an Inclusive Library

A guide for library directors to:

Increase awareness of harmful language commonly used within the library profession
Intentional use of a shared language and word choices that being to create trust and respect needed for real collaboration.

Serving Communities: Three Stories: Inclusion-centered Leadership in Action

Highlights the leadership lessons learned and the reflections of three senior library leaders and their key partners in their work as they strive to create sustainable inclusion-centered libraries.

Option 1: Table format, no color options

There are also five, self-guided modules, each with three themes and activities

Module	Themes and activities
Dimension I: Personal Inclusion-centered Leadership Practices	Reflective practice Intersectionality Where do library directors have and use their sphere of influence.
Dimension II: Inclusion-centered Leadership Practices in Library Organizational Culture	How do library priorities demonstrate values of equity and inclusion Exploring how the budget is part of the library's inclusion-centered values statement Library goal-setting and action planning for an inclusion-centered library.
Dimension III: Inclusion-centered Leadership Practices in Building Community Partnerships	Assess library director's personal community partnership attitudes and practices Deepen library relationships with local government agencies Develop and sustain actionable science community partnerships that meet the needs of underserved adult learners
Dimension IV: Inclusion-centered Leadership Practices in Community Member Experiences	Understanding library director actions to ensure sustainability of access and the contributions of underserved community members in actionable science information programs and services Knowing community member needs when determining actionable science issues Understanding and aligning actionable science programs and services for adult learners with exiting library offerings
Creating a Shared Language: A Glossary for an Inclusive Library Companion Module	Re-think works of convenience and buzzwords used in the library profession Create a shared language with staff, partners and community members Understand the importance of getting comfortable with uncomfortable conversations

Option 2: "card" format

There are also five, self-guided modules, each with three themes and activities

Dimension I: Personal Inclusion-centered Leadership Practices

Themes:

Reflective practice
Intersectionality
Where do library directors have and use their sphere of influence.

Dimension II: Inclusion-centered Leadership Practices in Library Organizational Culture

Themes:

How do library priorities demonstrate values of equity and inclusion
Exploring how the budget is part of the library's inclusion-centered values statement
Library goal-setting and action planning for an inclusion-centered library.

Dimension III: Inclusion-centered Leadership Practices in Building Community

Themes:

Assess library director's personal community partnership attitudes and practices
Deepen library relationships with local government agencies
Develop and sustain actionable science community partnerships that meet the needs of underserved adult learners

Dimension IV: Inclusion-centered Leadership Practices in Community Member Experiences

Themes:

Understanding library director actions to ensure sustainability of access and the contributions of underserved community members in actionable science information programs and services
Knowing community member needs when determining actionable science issues
Understanding and aligning actionable science programs and services for adult learners with exiting library offerings

Creating a Shared Language: A Glossary for an Inclusive Library Companion Module

Themes:

Re-think works of convenience and buzzwords used in the library profession
Create a shared language with staff, partners and community members
Understand the importance of getting comfortable with uncomfortable conversations

Learn more

Read about the origins of the Serving Communities framework and curriculum, and how they can support inclusion-centered leadership that engages adults in actionable science.

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