SCONUL is establishing an Open Forum for BAME staff working with SCONUL member libraries, led by the SCONUL BAME group. 

The SCONUL BAME Group will host two forums per year to enable BAME staff members to network and share information.  The forums will alternate, with one for BAME staff members only and the other to include allies.   The first forum will be for BAME staff members only and will include an informal conversation with the following BAME leaders in HE libraries:

• Marilyn Clarke:  Director of Library Services at Goldsmiths University (TBC)
• Regina Everitt: Assistant COO (Service Excellence) and Director of Libraries, Archives, and Learning Services at the University of East London (and Chair of the SCONUL BAME Group)
• Masud Khokhar:  Director of Library and Archives at the University of York

The leaders will provide brief contextual statements about their career progression then open the conversation to a range of topics of the choice of participants as well as about the recommendations from the report.  Please do come prepared with questions, examples of good practice, recommendations for actions to drive change, and any other information for exchange.  The good practice shared will inform the development of a toolkit of guidance for members on how to attract, develop and maintain BAME talent.

A date for the first Forum will be announced shortly.

The 2019 SCONUL report on BAME staff member experiences in academic and research libraries recommended key areas of change for member institutions:  leadership, voice, zero tolerance, cultural and behavioural change, effective partnerships for change, and career progression.  The SCONUL BAME Group has been formed to assist member institutions with delivering this change.   The Group has worked with the SCONUL office and AdvanceHE to develop training on how to lead on race equality within institutions.  This training will be piloted by the SCONUL Board in the first instance.