Sponsored by the Black Law Librarians Caucus, now the Black Law Librarians Special Interest Section (BLL-SIS)
Approved by the AALL Membership, May 2021
WHEREAS, AALL’s ethical principles emphasize the value of diversity and AALL strives to diversify its membership by creating environments and services that promote the inclusion of
historically underrepresented people; and
WHEREAS, diversity and inclusion is one of AALL’s core values; and
WHEREAS, AALL is committed to maintaining a safe, positive association where all members, partners, and stakeholders are treated with respect and dignity; and
WHEREAS, AALL had a Black Law Librarians Caucus, now the Black Law Librarians Special Interest Section (BLL-SIS) which is committed to providing a conducive environment for Black Law Librarians and other affiliate law librarian members to encourage, support and connect with each other, while developing lifetime learners and innovators in the profession; and
WHEREAS the intention of the BLL-SIS is to build upon the work of the Black Law Librarians Caucus by providing an important additional voice in the AALL organization, increasing the knowledge and abilities of our members, and assisting them in their growth as they build rewarding careers; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, AALL stands strongly with its Black Law Librarian members, and community and recommits to be open to recommendation of changes relative to its policies, values, goals, and mission to ensure its commitment to all; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, AALL through the work of its Special Committees and other AALL entities will determine ways in which AALL may ensure that the strategic direction and goals of the Association reflect diversity, equity and inclusion; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, AALL acknowledges that diversifying the pipeline of law librarians is key to a diverse and inclusive legal information profession and commits to working with other internal and external groups to determine the best actions to take; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, while diversity, equity, and inclusion are long-term goals, AALL commits to act with urgency, prioritizing its diversity, equity, and inclusion goals and undertaking specific actions that are meant to lead to measurable change; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, AALL is committed to providing all members with opportunities for continuing education that will include ways to understand and address implicit bias, structural racism, and pay equity barriers in the workplace.