Implementing Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A Handbook for Academic Libraries

“[T]he diversity of perspectives presented within this publication will build on the reader’s existing knowledge to bring nuances and alternative approaches to these enduring, seemingly intractable challenges within the LIS profession and within society.” —from the Foreword by Mark A. Puente   Academic library workers often make use of systemic, bureaucratic, political, collegial, and symbolic dimensions of organizational behavior to achieve their diversity, equity, and inclusion goals, but many are also doing the crucial work of pushing back at the structures surrounding them in ways small and large.   Implementing Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion captures emerging practices that academic libraries and librarians can use to create more equitable and representative institutions. 19 chapters are divided into 6 sections:   Recruitment, Retention and Promotion Professional Development Leveraging Collegial Networks Reinforcing the Message Organizational Change Assessment   Chapters cover topics including active diversity recruitment strategies; inclusive hiring; gendered ageism; librarians with disabilities; diversity and inclusion with student workers; residencies and retention; creating and implementing a diversity strategic plan; cultural competency training; libraries’ responses to Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action; and accountability and assessment. Authors provide practical guiding principles, effective practices, and sample programs and training.    Implementing Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion explores how academic libraries have leveraged and deployed their institutions’ resources to effect DEI improvements while working toward implementing systemic solutions. It provides means and inspiration for continuing to try to hire, retain, and promote the change we want to see in the world regardless of existing structures and systems, and ways to improve those structures and systems for the future.

Table of Contents:
Dedication Foreword Mark A. Puente Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Section I: Recruitment, Retention and Promotion Chapter 1. Transitioning from Passive to Active Diversity Recruitment Strategies: A Case Study Amy Tureen Chapter 2. A Journey to Hiring with Heart: A Case Study on Implementing Leading Practices in Inclusive Hiring Annie BÉlanger, Sarah Beaubien, Scott Ayotte, and Abigail Smathers Chapter 3. Gendered Ageism as a Barrier to Tenure-Track Librarianship Sally Stieglitz Chapter 4. Desperately Seeking Librarians with a Disability Kenneth D. Litwak Chapter 5. Mentoring and Diversity Barbara Lewis, Matt Torrence, Tomaro Taylor, and Meghan Cook Chapter 6. Bare Witness: Library Leaders of Color Tell Their Stories of Advancing into Senior Leadership Positions Kimberley Bugg Section II: Professional Development Chapter 7. Your Workforce Is More Than You Think: Looking at Diversity and Inclusion with Student Workers Melanie Bopp Chapter 8. Introducing Cultural Competency in Libraries: A Case Study in Grassroots Professional Development Katherine Kapsidelis and Elizabeth Galoozis Chapter 9. Embracing a Culture of Humility, Diversity, and Inclusion: A Case Study of an Academic Library’s Radical Compassion Programming Latanya N. Jenkins and Elizabeth L. Sweet Chapter 10. Cultural Intelligence in Academic Libraries Michele A. L. Villagran Section III: Leveraging Collegial Networks Chapter 11. Braving Our Blind Spots: Using a Virtual Book Discussion Group to Continue Conversations on Implicit Bias in Libraries Shannon Jones, Kelsa Bartley, Melissa DeSantis, Ryan Harris, Don Jason, and Dede Rios Chapter 12 Bridging the Gap between Residencies and Retention: A Case Study of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Diversity Resident Librarian Program and the Inception of the Library Diversity Institute LaTesha Velez Section IV: Reinforcing the Message Chapter 13. Critical Analysis of ARL Member Institutions’ Diversity Statements V. Dozier, Sandra Enimil, and Adebola Fabiku Section V: Organizational Change Chapter 14. The Making of Emory Libraries’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee: A Case Study Saira Raza, Melissa Hackman, Hannah Rutledge, Jina DuVernay, Nik Dragovic, and Erica Bruchko Chapter 15. Framework for Change: Utilizing a University-wide Diversity Strategic Planning Process for an Academic Library Renna Redd, Alydia Sims, and Tara Weekes Chapter 16. An Introductory Indigenous Cultural Competency Training Program in the Academic Environment Camille Callison and Lyle Ford Chapter 17. Journeying to Accountability: Labor and Responses of Settler Knowledge Institutions to Indigenous Communities and Issues Oy Lein “Jace” Harrison, Jamie Lee Morin, Desmond Wong, and May Chan Section VI: Assessment Chapter 18. Assessing DEI Efforts in Academic Libraries: More Than a Body Count Kawanna Bright CHAPTER 19. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plans and Programs in ARL Libraries Toni Anaya and Charlene Maxey Harris Afterword Author Biographies