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Up To Date

Libraries Meeting Needs Of Diverse Communities

2nd National Joint Conference of Librarians of Color

Demographers predict that by the year 2050, African-Americans, Asian Pacific Islanders, Latino/Hispanics, and Native Americans will constitute the majority of Americans.

The 2nd National Joint Conference of Librarians of Color is meeting this week in Kansas City, Missouri to help answer the question: How are our nation's libraries preparing for the demographic shift?

In the first part of Monday's Up to Date, we examine how libraries are rethinking how to provide services to diverse communities.  The challenges they face include meeting the increasing demand for multicultural and multilingual collections; recruiting a racially diverse bilingual workforce; and the development of multilingual literacy programs that empower English-language learners.

Joining Steve Kraske for the discussion is Native American author, David Treuer; President of the American Library Association, Maureen Sullivan; and UMKC Diversity Liaison and librarian of color, Gloria Tibbs.

We want to hear your ideas and suggestions on how libraries can engage and meet the needs of multi-cultural communities.  Call us during the show at 816.235.2888, post to our Facebook page, or send us a tweet @KCURUpToDate.

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When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
As senior producer of Up To Date, I want our listeners to hear familiar and new voices that shine light on the issues and challenges facing the myriad communities KCUR serves, and to expose our audiences to the wonderful and the creative in the Kansas City area. Just as important to me is an obligation to mentor the next generation of producers to ensure that the important conversations continue. Reach me at alexanderdk@kcur.org.