Chapter 6 Learning Objectives

After completing this chapter, the reader should have an understanding of:

• each concept (equity, diversity, and inclusion);

• the importance of the concepts to information organizations; and

• how intercultural communication competence, cultural competence, and cultural humility can support successful EDI work in information organizations.

Chapter 6 Instructor PowerPoint

Downloadable PowerPoint presentation and PowerPoint notes for course instruction. These files are only accessible to instructors who have adopted Information Services Today: An Introduction (3rd ed) for their course. To request access, please click on the images below or email Sandy Hirsh.

Chapter 6 Discussion Questions

The following questions are included in the textbook.

1. EDI as an acronym has often been used as a stand-in or a standalone term meaning just diversity. But as this chapter indicates, each aspect of EDI (equity, diversity, and inclusion) has distinctive meanings. In your own words, how would you distinguish between equity, diversity, and inclusion as they relate to the work of information organizations and information professionals?

2. This chapter offers some suggestions for ways information organizations can lead EDI change. But knowing where to start in this process can be daunting. If you were working in an information organization and preparing to engage in EDI work, what would be the first issue or concern you would want to address? Describe the issue and one or two approaches you feel could be utilized to help address the issue. What would be the impact of success on the information organization field?
   

Additional questions proposed by the author but not included in the textbook.

1. Working to become competent in intercultural communication, to become culturally competent, or to work with cultural humility are three suggestions for how information organizations and information professionals can approach successfully supporting EDI in their organizations and their communities. Which of these competencies do you feel would have the most positive impact on your approach to work within an information organization? What are two to three steps you could take to work on building competence in your selected area?

Related Chapters

The following chapters are referenced in Chapter 6 and may assist in expanding your classroom instruction and discussions.

• Chapter 4: Information Communities

• Chapter 7: Social Justice

• Chapter 9: Learning and Research Institutions: Academic Libraries

• Chapter 10: Community Anchors for Lifelong Learning: Public Libraries

• Chapter 22: Change Management

• Chapter 25: Managing Human Resources

• Chapter 31: Advocacy

• Chapter 37: Information Privacy and Cybersecurity

• Chapter 38: Intellectual Freedom

• Chapter 40: Leadership Skills for Today’s Global Information Landscape