Committee on Diversity (COD)

To provide a forum to research, monitor, discuss, and address national diversity issues and trends. To analyze and address the impact of diversity issues and trend on the profession, and the relevance and effectiveness of library leadership, library organizations and library services to an increasingly diverse society. To provide to council and ALA membership information, needed for the establishment of ALA policies, actions and initiatives related to national diversity issues and trends. To encourage and facilitate diversity in ALA membership and the recruitment and retention of a diverse workforce in the profession as a whole. To encourage and facilitate diversity in ALA leadership and leadership development. To facilitate a broad awareness of how and why diversity is unequivocally linked to all ALA areas of concern such as intellectual freedom, education and continual learning, literary and equity of access. To work collaboratively with the ALA president, ALA council, ALA divisions, ALA offices and units, ALA round tables, ALA committees, and ALA affiliates. To serve in an advisory capacity to the director of the office for diversity to (1) support the role of the office for diversity as the clearinghouse for ALA's diversity resources, contacts, and information exchange, (2) monitor the implementation, progress and ongoing evaluation of ALA national diversity initiatives and programs, and (3) plan, support and encourage conference programs, activities and special events.