From Document to Action: Sustaining Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Hiring and Retention Practices in University Libraries

Abstract

This poster reports findings from a survey with a focus on the research question: how has EDI practices, policies, and/or legislation in government and institutions moved from document to action to address the underrepresentation of librarians and library workers in academic libraries? The purpose of this study was to understand the impact of EDI documentation on hiring, training, and programs through the insights of people from underrepresented groups in libraries. Institutional documents have long been criticized as non-performative (Ahmed, 2012), where the act of creating EDI-related documents is often the action rather than changes to workplace culture and institutional practices. This poster summarizes some key findings through visuals that represent what people may experience on a pathway (i.e., workplace culture) and the importance of sustaining a practice of care in institutions (i.e., taking care of the green space) and the need for university libraries to give space for thriving communities (e.g., gardens). Our gaze looks towards institutions to identify better library practices so that documents turn into action.