Changing Academic Libraries’ Cultures and Empowering Minority Employees in a DEI World

Abstract

In the context of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, this presentation will focus on culture's role in building and maintaining culturally diverse and inclusive library work environments. It will examine how tradition, bias, privilege, and racism thwart the typical library organization’s quest to develop an inclusive environment. Concepts such as white and non-white styles, whiteness in libraries, microaggressions, and stereotype threats will be addressed. The presenter will equip minority librarians with tools to survive in organizations where they are othered. Through examples and strategies, non-minority librarians will also learn to manage their ethnocentric tendencies. All attendees will leave with ideas about how they can assist with enabling and sustaining diverse library organizations.Keywords: antiracist, racism, librarians of color, whiteness, academic libraries