Take advantage of this ALA award-winning library resource developed by Meg Kolaya, Library Director, Scotch Plains PL, and Dan Weiss, Library Director, Fanwood Memorial Library. Strategies, resources, an updated video, workshop offerings, and news are shared with enthusiasm and results-driven expertise.
The ALA Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services supports library and information science workers in creating responsible and all-inclusive spaces that serve and represent the entire community. To accomplish this, we decenter power and privilege by facilitating conversations around access and identity as they impact the profession and those we serve. We use a social justice framework to inform library and information science workers' development of resources. We strive to create an association culture where these concerns are incorporated into everybody's everyday work.
The Office for Diversity serves as a clearinghouse for diversity resources and a focal point for administering and fostering diversity as a value and key action area of the Association. The Office serves the membership through its initiatives and programs, resource development, active consultations and training on diversity issues that impact the profession, the workplace, and information service delivery.
The Office for Diversity provides a collection of resources in building diversity:
The Visually-Impaired Services Outpatient Rehabilitation (VISOR) is a program of the NJ-VA Health System that serves veterans with vision loss.
The Hope for Veterans program of Community Hope serves NJ homeless veterans and their families. Community Hope is a nonprofit organization.
The Help for Homeless Veterans project is a program of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It is a 24/7 program. Call 1-877-424-3838.
The Social Service for the Homeless program of the Division of Family Development in the NJ Department of Human Services offers emergency assistance to NJ residents at risk of homelessness. On this web site, you will find a link to social service hotlines organized by county.
Dial 211 from any phone in New Jersey 24 hours/day, 7 days/week and receive information and referral assistance for community resources, such as affordable housing, food pantries, shelters, social services, etc. If someone cannot call 211, this toll-free number can be dialed: 877-652-1148
The NJ Division of Aging Services administers state and federal services for senior citizens and their caregivers. They have a general information toll-free number: 800-792-8820. They also coordinate the Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) program which offers a single point-of-entry service for seniors with disabilities; see: http://www.adrcnj.org .
The NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities serves adult NJ residents, over the age of 21, who have intellectual and developmental disabilities (including autism; see Office on Autism at http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/ddd/home/ooa.html). Their toll-free number is 800-832-9173.
Children and adolescents with emotional, developmental, intellectual or medical disabilities are served by the Children's System of Care in the NJ Department of Children and Families (see http://www.state.nj.us/dcf/families/csc ) and/or by Special Child Health and Early Intervention Services in the NJ Department of Health (see http://www.nj.gov/health/fhs/sch ).
