The Importance of DEI in Libraries

Growing up as a half-Asian girl in a mostly White southern Ohio town, I easily empathized with people who felt isolated because of their differences. My sense of empathy incited me to engage in activism from a young age. For example, my high school’s mascot was the Braves, and our logo was a Native American warrior. Along with other high school student activists, I educated the board of administrators about the social injustice and harmful stereotypes this mascot promoted by sharing research studies and testimonies from students with Native American heritage.

 

I felt connected to this issue because my family has faced adversity in the past due to prejudice and discrimination. As a teenager, my grandmother was forced to evacuate her home in Seattle to be interned in a Japanese internment camp in Wyoming during World War II. My brother is transgender and has faced discrimination from healthcare providers and other individuals. I have dealt with medical adversity and ableist policies as someone with anxiety, and a rare congenital vein disorder called Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome.

 

Through these experiences, my belief in the importance of inclusive and equitable rights has grown. My passion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) led me to pursue librarianship, a true helping profession where I can assist people from a variety of backgrounds. According to the American Library Association (2006), diversity is one of the core values of librarianship. As librarians, we should “value our nation's diversity and strive to reflect that diversity by providing a full spectrum of resources and services to the communities we serve” (American Library Association, 2006).

 

As an academic librarian, I hope to advance DEI efforts by developing diverse collections that reflect the information needs and experiences of the student body and campus community. I believe in advocating for equitable and inclusive policy planning, as well as student programming based on community needs assessments. I realize how dangerous and harmful prejudice and discrimination can be, and I recognize that librarians are in a position to empower those who are often overlooked in our society by providing equitable access to information.

 

I believe it is important for people of all races, ethnicities, abilities, gender identities, sexualities, religions, etc., to not only be represented in library collections through stories and media, but also for them to feel welcome in library spaces. One way for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) patrons to feel more welcome is to prioritize hiring more BIPOC librarians in our field. I also believe that offering cultural competency training to library staff is essential. Being aware of and reflecting on our own racial and cultural backgrounds can help us better serve diverse populations. Above all, throughout my career, I will continue to advocate for those who are oppressed and seek to amplify the voices of those who have been silenced.

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Reference

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American Library Association (2006, July 26). Core values of librarianship.

https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/corevalues