Cultural and Racial Diversity Committee
Veyshon Edmond, Chicago Public Library

Are you planning a visit to Rockford, Illinois this summer? If so, you may very well run into Curt McKay, retired Director of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resources and former Assistant Dean of Student Affairs for the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

When Curt is not in Rockford supervising the work on his house, where he plans to relocate this summer, he is a tireless advocate for both the LGBT and library communities. He is still very much involved with the LGBT department at the University of Illinois and the Greater Community AIDS Project in Urbana-Champaign.

Curt dreams of the day when there will be a higher quality of books available to LGBT children on the national and international level. He said, “Children and their parents need complete access to LGBT literature and resources throughout the world!”

As a trusted counselor, mentor, and supporter of library science students at the University of Illinois, Curt has been an asset to our profession. He continues to encourage prospective students and believes in complete cultural and racial diversity within librarianship.

The Curt McKay Student Need Fund assists University of Illinois library science students with short-term emergencies for unexpected life events. You can donate here.

Keep up with new developments on the Cultural and Racial Diversity Committee’s blog.

Currently, the Cultural and Racial Diversity Committee is busy planning activities for the fall conference in Peoria. The popular DiversiTea event will return, and we hope to see you there!