Library Human Resources in cooperation with the Diversity Team is launching the Bridging the Gap Program for 2018. This program is designed to foster a climate where all library employees feel welcomed, valued, and respected and to help bridge the work-culture gaps that often exist among library employees.
How the Bridging the Gap Program will work for 2018
Based on feedback from past participants, this year you can sign up for a one-on-one pairing with another library worker, or you can sign up as a 2 – 4 member team. Please complete and submit the participant form by March 19. If you have already found a colleague or team who wishes to bridge the gap with you, you can partner with them. Or you can just sign up and we will suggest a partner or team for you.
Please identify the type of gap you want to bridge such as:
- librarian / non-librarian
- public services / technical services
- supervisor / non-supervisor
- techies / non-techies
- main campus / medical center
- traditional cultural and ethnic differences
- other gap (please describe)
Each pair or team of volunteers should have at least three one-hour meetings over the spring, summer and fall quarters in order to complete the program. You will have the flexibility to determine how you spend your time together. For instance, you can
- visit each other’s work location or office and see how you do your work
- walk around Aldrich Park and chat
- get together for conversations over coffee, tea, or lunch
During the time you spend together, learn about each other by discussing things like, but not limited to:
- what your typical work week looks like
- the role of your department or unit in the Libraries
- your career path and aspirations
- what matters to you and why
- aspects of your current job that you like or dislike
- your educational background and work experience
- your cultural heritage, native language, or family customs
- your special interests or hobbies outside of work
- anything else that would help you understand your colleagues as whole persons and learn about how they contribute to the UCI Libraries.
It is expected that these bridging the gap meetings will happen during regular working hours. Therefore, if you sign up for the program, you should inform your supervisor and agree upon times to schedule your get-togethers that will not interfere with the business needs of your department.
Reception to wrap-up the Bridging the Gap Program for 2018
As a capstone to the program, all volunteers will be invited to attend a reception with food and beverages provided by the Libraries in November at which you can share highlights of your Bridging the Gap experience with other volunteers.
How to sign up to participate
If you are interested in participating in the 2018 Bridging the Gap Program, please send an email to Kathryn Kjaer, kkjaer@uci.edu, by March 19 with the following information:
- Do you want to participate as an individual or as part of a team?
- Do you want us to match you with an individual or team?
- Do you already have a person or team in mind that you want to be paired with? If so who?
- What gap(s) do you hope to address?
Thank you,
Kathryn Kjaer and the Libraries Diversity Team
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