Bridging the Staff Digital Divide in the Library Workplace with EDIA

Abstract

As libraries are emerging from the closures and hybrid work environments, many managers are finding the digital divide has widened among library workers at all levels. Systemic lack of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility that already existed in the workplace prior to COVID, now is receiving heightened awareness, but needs to be addressed with concrete solutions. Organizational manifestations of the digital divide are explored, such as other library staff can do this work but your office isn’t equipped to do it either onsite or remotely, or lack of IT support and instruction that meets the needs of the staff. Additionally, individual manifestations of the digital gap are examined such as stereotypes “they are: _______” (fill in the blank) or mind-sets about IT failures, avoidance and hiding challenges.

With an Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility (EDIA) lens, this paper looks at how equity can be achieved though opportunities for cross-organizational mentoring and resource sharing. Methods of building in diversity, not only in the instruction but also with the instructors, will be examined. Ways of breaking down barriers to inclusion of staff with weak IT skills on technology teams and committees in the library will be discussed. A particular focus will be on methods to promote a safe inclusive learning space that includes behind the scenes remedial help and confidence building.

Multiple approaches to break down the accessibility barriers and challenges the staff have had not only with the technology, but with learning in the new hybrid environment will go beyond those with hearing or sight challenges and include those with linguistic and community issues. Individual development plans, diagnostic tests, and “just in time” instruction will be explored These strategies will also readily adapt to faculty students, and researchers as libraries open up and librarians need to develop new methods of library instruction grounded in EDIA.