Diversity and Inclusion in Libraries

A Call to Action and Strategies for Success

Edited by Shannon D. Jones and Beverly Murphy

The news and scholarly literature are replete with stories and articles describing the challenges that diverse individuals face in their local communities and workplaces. Diversity and Inclusion in Libraries: A Call to Action and Strategies for Success is arranged in three parts: Why Diversity and Inclusion Matter, Equipping the Library Staff, and Voices from the Field.

This book tackles these issues head on and should appeal to a broad audience interested in diversity as it relates to libraries and librarianship, including professional librarians and paraprofessional library staff. Offering best practices strategies tempered by experiences and wisdom, this book will help libraries realize a high level of inclusion.

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 210 • Trim: 6⅜ x 9

978-1-5381-1438-4 • Hardback • July 2019 • $97.00 • (£75.00)

978-1-5381-1439-1 • Paperback • July 2019 • $44.00 • (£35.00)

978-1-5381-1440-7 • eBook • July 2019 • $41.50 • (£35.00)

Series: Medical Library Association Books Series

Subjects: Language Arts & Disciplines / Library & Information Science / Administration & Management

Diversity and Inclusion in Libraries

A Call to Action and Strategies for Success

Hardback

Paperback

eBook

Summary

The news and scholarly literature are replete with stories and articles describing the challenges that diverse individuals face in their local communities and workplaces. Diversity and Inclusion in Libraries: A Call to Action and Strategies for Success is arranged in three parts: Why Diversity and Inclusion Matter, Equipping the Library Staff, and Voices from the Field.

This book tackles these issues head on and should appeal to a broad audience interested in diversity as it relates to libraries and librarianship, including professional librarians and paraprofessional library staff. Offering best practices strategies tempered by experiences and wisdom, this book will help libraries realize a high level of inclusion.

Details

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 210 • Trim: 6⅜ x 9

978-1-5381-1438-4 • Hardback • July 2019 • $97.00 • (£75.00)

978-1-5381-1439-1 • Paperback • July 2019 • $44.00 • (£35.00)

978-1-5381-1440-7 • eBook • July 2019 • $41.50 • (£35.00)

Series: Medical Library Association Books Series

Subjects: Language Arts & Disciplines / Library & Information Science / Administration & Management

Author

Shannon D. Jones’ (pronouns: she/her/hers) career in libraries spans 20 years. She is the director of libraries for the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Prior to her arrival at MUSC, Jones was the associate director for research and education at the Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond. Shannon received her MLS from North Carolina Central University (NCCU). In addition to the MLS, Shannon also holds a BA in English from North Carolina State University, a MIS from NCCU, and a MEd in adult learning from VCU.

Beverly Murphy (pronouns: she/her/hers) has been a librarian for 38 years and holds a BS in biology and an MLS from North Carolina Central University. She is the assistant director for communications and web content management at the Duke University Medical Center Library & Archives. She is also the hospital nursing liaison for the Duke Health System and liaison for the Watts School of Nursing. She is a distinguished member of the Academy of Health Information Professionals and has served in several capacities for the Medical Library Association including service as thefirst African-American president.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chris Bourg

Part 1: Why Diversity and Inclusion Matter

Chapter 1: From Whence We Came: A Historical Perspective

Janice M. Young and John L. Donovan

Chapter 2: Overview of Diversity and Inclusion Literature and Research: 1970-2017

Xan Y. Goodman

Chapter 3: The Changing Face of Librarianship

Carenado Davis and Tristan Ebron

Chapter 4: Implicit Bias andMicroaggressions in Library and Information Sciences (LIS)

Nicole A. Cooke and Miriam E. Sweeney

Chapter 5: Subversive Librarianship as a Strategy for Social Justice and Activism

Rebecca Hankins

Part II: Equipping the Library Staff

Chapter 6: Leading a Diverse and Inclusive Library

Cristina Dominguez Ramírez

Chapter 7: Aligning the Library’s Strategy with the Parent Organization

Gerald (Jerry) Perry, Jennifer Nichols, Cheryl Neal, Shawna Thompson, and Ping Situ

Chapter 8: Recruiting and Retaining a Diverse Workforce

Shannon D. Jones and Beverly Murphy

Chapter 9: Developing Cultural Competency and Sensitivity

Shaundra Walker

Chapter 10: Professional Development As a Growth Strategy

Placedia Miller and Tanika Martin

Part III: Voices from the Field

Chapter 11: From Recruitment to Promotion: Fostering the Success of Librarians from Diverse Populations

Alan R. Bailey

Chapter 12: Inside the Mind of the African-American Male Librarian

Carenado Davis, Tristan Ebron, and Carl Leak

Chapter 13: Interpersonal Relationships with Minority Women in Leadership Positions

kYmberly Keeton

Chapter 14: Otherness, Inclusion, and Libraries

Sonia Alcantara-Antoine

Chapter 15: An Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Complaint in Progressive Land Library

An African-American Female in Middle Management

Chapter 16: Disability and the Library Workplace

Katharine “JJ” Pionke

Chapter 17: Say My Name: Transgender Acceptance Across Campus

Amy Kautzman and Beth Lesen

Chapter 18: Me, An Academic Librarian – Never”: How One Diversity Program Paved the Way for a Career in the Profession

Annabelle V. Nuñez and Gina Macaluso

Chapter 19: Creating a Successful Task Group on Diversity

Brenda Linares and Ene Belleh

Chapter 20: A Prescription for Critical Consciousness, Courage, and Cultural Humility in Cross Cultural Communications

Kenyon Railey

Reviews

Jones and Murphy's collection provides entry for those new to theories and concepts in diversity and inclusion work—concepts such as micro-aggression (discussed by Nicole Cooke and Miriam Sweeney). For the benefit of readers already familiar with such work, contributors introduce recent concepts, e.g., cultural humility (discussed by Kenyon Railey). The editors divide the 20 essays into three sections: "Why Diversity and Inclusion Matter," "Equipping the Library Staff,” and “Voices from the Field." One this book's strengths is that it mixes history and theory with practical applications that can be implemented immediately to combat structural inequalities in libraries. Among those strategies is diversity inventories, addressed by Jerry Perry et al. The affecting narratives in part 3 uniquely demonstrate the painful effects, both personal and professional, of discrimination against librarians in underrepresented groups—black, Latinx, and disabled. The publication is geared to a broad audience, but the book should be required reading for library administrators.

Summing Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students, researchers, faculty, professionals.
— Choice Reviews

Diversity and Inclusion in Libraries champions marginalized individuals by shining a great big light on what they are experiencing and what is being done within the profession.
— Public Services Quarterly

Of interest within the volume are the many reflections on Jaena Alibi's 2015 study of microaggressions in libraries and the myriad responses of cultural competency initiatives that improve the retention of diverse employees. The breadth of contributions is also valuable. While focusing primarily on questions of race and ethnicity, some chapters devote needed attention to other aspects of diversity including gender identity and disability. Likewise, the many personal testimonials containing often brutal honesty are a truly unique contribution to the discourse which future publications should replicate whenever possible. . . . Both [authors] are women of color who have undertaken initiatives to build diversity and inclusion in their respective institutions and in the profession at large. In this volume, they have assembled a range of authors from a variety of backgrounds and areas of professional focus in libraries. Librarians in charge of new diversity initiatives should take this opportunity to listen to these urgently needed voices.

— Technical Services Quarterly

[T]his book is highly recommended for librarians in all settings who seek to promote diversity and inclusion in their workplaces and profession. It also has potential as a text for library science faculty and students who seek to understand diversity issues in the profession, and many of the chapters could serve as great conversation starters. In short, this book can empower us all to take steps to address inequities and better support each other and our patrons.

— Journal of the Medical Library Association

This book does a commendable job of providing a perspective of African American librarians working in public and academic libraries, which I can personally relate to as a Canadian academic librarian with Afro-Caribbean ancestry. It is noteworthy that this book provides some good practical strategies that could be implemented in libraries that would like to develop a diversity program. I would highly recommend this book for any library administrator interested in implementing a diversity program or any library staff member wanting to increase their cultural sensitivity to diversity issues.

— The International Journal of Information, Diversity, and Inclusion

The contributions to this book highlight and deepen the conversation with new and necessary voices in sharing the achievements and experiences made by marginalized people in librarianship. It is an important primer, a guide, if you will, for creating action and enacting change in examining equity, diversity, and inclusion.
— Derrick Jefferson, communication librarian, American University

Timely and necessary, Diversity and Inclusion in Libraries: A Call to Action and Strategies for Success pushes LIS practitioners to move beyond just talking about diversity and inclusion in libraries. With a mixture of historical perspectives, proactive strategies, and first-person experiences, this compilation provides both impetus and support for action.
— Kawanna Bright, PhD, MLIS, assistant professor, Library Science, East Carolina University

Chosen as a Doody's Core Title for 2023.

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Features

11/5/19 - Duke Today featured the book and author in a feature post, entitled "Fall Books: Clean Hands, Aging Brains, Evangelical Women and Other Great Reads." Link: https://today.duke.edu/2019/11/fall-books-clean-hands-aging-brains-evangelical-women-and-other-great-reads

Awards