Libraries face major challenges in recruiting for a diverse workplace, and the best of intentions have not resulted in significant progress. Diversity hiring plans fall short of accomplishing the goal of realizing more diverse representation in leadership roles at libraries. While policies are a vital first steps, they may not result in increased applications or actual hires. DML had the opportunity to celebrate our own diverse staff with an in-house marketing campaign created to welcome a more diverse candidate pool.

The See Yourself Here campaign is a significant investment by DML to focus on the importance of representation and a diverse workplace. This is both a targeted effort to welcome a more diverse workforce, as well as a retention tool because it acknowledges and celebrates contributions from current staff. The campaign is featured on social media, on DML's website and as a branded kit brought to recruitment events for outreach — specifically to historically black colleges and local minority business groups.

Since launching See Yourself Here, our recruitment and retention manager has received positive feedback from many visitors to the DML booth at job fairs. Representation matters, and by showcasing both men and people of color in our materials, DML reaches beyond the “old school” misconception that librarians are white, bun-wearing women of a certain age, and rather offers a visual demonstration of our commitment to being a welcoming, inclusive and diverse workplace.