Dali and Caidi recipients of 2018 David Cohen/EMIERT Multicultural Award

CHICAGO – Keren Dali, assistant professor at the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Alberta, Canada and Nadia Caidi, associate professor at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information iSchool, are the recipients of the 2018 American Library Association (ALA) Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT) David Cohen/EMIERT Multicultural Award for their article entitled "Diversity by Design.”

The David Cohen/EMIERT Multicultural Award recognizes recent articles that include significant new research related to the understanding and promotion of multiculturalism in libraries in North America.  Works published within the last two years preceding the award application deadline are eligible to receive the award.

Dali and Caidis’ article examines the concept of “integral diversity” or the idea that diversity should be an indispensable element in a system such as a class or workplace, and that “removing this element would preclude the system from functioning properly.” Integrating diversity at the structural level would hinder its treatment as an appendage to LIS curricula, for instance. Rather, diversity would be treated like technology, which is taught as a core LIS course although, paradoxically, not all students will work in “technology-saturated environments.” Comparatively, more students will work in diverse workplaces and communities and as a result will require competence with diversity as a core professional skill.

The authors suggest communal partnerships and guest talks encompassing the course subject and diversity as practical examples of diversity by design.  

The Award, consisting of $500 and a commemorative plaque, will be presented to Dali and Caidis during the EMIERT Chair's Program at ALA’s 2018 Annual Conference in New Orleans.

For more information, please visit www.ala.org/emiert.

Founded in 1982, the Ethnic and Multicultural Information and Exchange Round Table (EMIERT) serves as a source of information for recommended ethnic and multilingual collections, services and programs.