Competency C

Articulate the importance of designing programs and services supportive of diversity, inclusion, and equity for clientele and employees

Introduction

Information professionals have long since recognized the importance of being aware of their community needs. This is especially true now more than ever in public libraries. Over the past few years, many communities have changed and become more diverse, and they will continue to do so. With this increase in diversity comes an increase of challenges in meeting the unique and changing needs of the community. By taking into account the need for equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI ) in every part of their library (such as books and materials, services, programs, facilities, policies and procedures, and professional development), librarians place themselves in a better position to effectively serve and support their communities by filling in various informational, educational, and social service gaps that may exist. By being mindful that many communities may be underserved or overlooked, librarians can remove barriers, improve lives, and build stronger communities.

Explication

In their Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights, the American Library Association (ALA) affirms that EDI is integral to intellectual freedom. Librarians and staff are encouraged to embrace these concepts in every part of their practice to ensure that the materials, resources, programs, and services reflect the needs of the people they serve (2017).

Equity

Equity is often confused with equality. Where equality infers that everyone has the same access to the same resources, materials, and opportunities, equity “takes difference into account to ensure a fair process and, ultimately, a fair outcome. Equity recognizes that some groups were (and are) disadvantaged in accessing educational and employment opportunities and are, therefore, underrepresented or marginalized in many organizations and institutions. Equity, therefore, means increasing diversity by ameliorating conditions of disadvantaged groups.” (ALA, 2017, para. 2).

Diversity

The ALA defines diversity as “the sum of the ways that people are both alike and different. When we recognize, value, and embrace diversity, we are recognizing, valuing, and embracing the uniqueness of each individual” (2017, para. 3). Diversity incorporates various characteristics both visible and invisible as well as internal and external. These characteristics include race, ethnicity, culture, religion, sexuality, ability (physical, mental, cognitive, etc.), age, gender, sex, and even life situations, all of which affect community members' needs.

Inclusion

One of the primary principles of public librarianship is that the library is for all members of the community. However, inclusion is not just the simple act of welcoming people into library facilities. Inclusion means “an environment in which all individuals are treated fairly and respectfully; are valued for their distinctive skills, experiences, and perspectives; have equal access to resources and opportunities; and can contribute fully to the organization’s success” (ALA, 2017, para. 4). Community members must feel like their needs are being taken into consideration.

Significance of EDI Awareness

“Diversity is ever present and increasing in our society, and libraries should be able to meet their communities where they are, instead of offering a prepared slate of services and resources deemed suitable for them” (Cook, 2017, p. 1). Integrating EDI into the policies, practices, and procedures of public libraries ensures that the programs, services, resources, and materials are catered to the community’s needs and address challenges that the members may face. For example, libraries include better representation in the library’s collection for members of the people of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities and provide multilingual staff and materials for customers who speak a language other than English.

They can also update facilities to accommodate people with limited physical abilities or who are neurodivergent. This can come in the form of computers with large print for those who have limited visibility or creating “safe spaces” for children who are autistic and can experience sensory overload. Changing existing policies that create barriers to those who have limited resources or experiencing hardship (such as late fees) expands access and encourages people to use the resources more. Another way of incorporating EDI is by providing professional development and training in cultural competence, intercultural communication, and cultural humility to help build awareness among librarians and staff (Bright, 2022).

The American Library Association (n.d.) provides a plethora of resources and recommendations for promoting and advocating EDI, including policy manuals, information about continuing education, cultural competencies, research and statistics, programming, outreach, and workforce development. These resources aid librarians in providing equitable access to library services for all members of their communities.

Evidence

INFO 284 - History of Libraries: Final Research Paper

The diversity of libraries in the 21^st century can be attributed to the expansion of the social consciousness of librarians over the past few decades. My final research paper for INFO 284 focused on the efforts of librarians during the 1960s and 1970s to advocate for diversity and equitable access for underserved community members – most notably services for immigrants and minorities. The events during this period sparked fundamental changes that increased the awareness among informational professionals about the need for diverse library materials and resources and altered how libraries served their ever-growing diverse communities.

An example of the changes can be seen in the Oakland Public Library’s Asian Branch (formerly known as the Asian Community Library). This was the first library in the San Francisco Bay Area that catered to the needs and interests of the Asian American community members in the area. The collection covers assorted topics such as the Asian American experience as well as Asian culture, heritage, and immigrant history. Materials and resources are also multilingual (Oakland Public Library, n.d.).

INFO 281 - Serving Homeless Patrons: Final Project

My final project for INFO 281 highlighted several ways public library policies and procedures could be changed and enhanced in order to effectively serve library customers experiencing homelessness. Through the lectures and assignments in this course, I learned about the effects of homelessness, the growing crisis in my immediate community, and how the current operations of many public libraries can generate barriers that put people experiencing homelessness at an even greater disadvantage. While homelessness is a multifaceted problem caused by various issues such as lack of affordable housing, inadequate wages, job insecurity, as well as lack of mental health services and homeless resources in general, public libraries can help mitigate some of the negative effects of homelessness by providing people with access to resources and services needed.

INFO 287 - Adult Literacy: Adult Literacy/ESL Action Plan

In this group project, my partner and I created an Adult Literacy/ESL Action Plan for the Stanislaus County Library. During this project, we examined the local demographics, analyzed the literacy statistics of the area, assessed the community’s assets and needs, and evaluated the library’s existing programs and resources. Using the Adult Literacy Through Libraries (ALL) Action Agenda as a guide, we recommended areas that the library could prioritize and enhance in order to effectively serve their customers with limited to no English-speaking skills. INFO 287 taught me about the profound effect of adult literacy and English proficiency on community members' success and overall well-being, and the critical role libraries play in helping them improve their literacy skills.

INFO 281 - Intercultural Communication: Removing Cultural Barriers Final Project

INFO 281 highlighted the integral role culture plays in information needs and the challenges arising from cultural differences and overall lack of awareness on the information professional’s part. For my final project, I created a guide that helps librarians understand the importance of intercultural communication & cultural competence and how to develop an Action Plan that can help them eliminate cultural barriers that may exist in their libraries. The one question that I highlighted in the presentation was, “Who are you serving?” At the heart of librarianship, this is one of the essential questions that librarians need to ask themselves while they assess their communities and libraries.

Conclusion

Public libraries have a profound impact on the lives of their community members. As our communities evolve and become more diverse, it becomes increasingly important to be able to meet the changing needs and provide solutions to challenges that their community may experience. By incorporating EDI into their organizational policies, practices, procedures, and day-to-day operations, libraries further their goals, enhance their program and services, and reaffirm their position as community anchors, a place for all community members to connect, learn, and transform their lives. EDI ensures that public libraries can adequately serve the needs of all their customers.

References

American Library Association. (n.d.). Equity, diversity, and inclusion. Retrieved September 8, 2022, from

https://www.ala.org/advocacy/diversity

American Library Association. (2017, June 27). Equity, diversity, inclusion: An Interpretation of the library

bill of rights. Advocacy, Legislation & Issues.

https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/EDI

Bright, K. (2022). Equity of access, diversity, and inclusion. In S. Hirsh (Ed.), Information services today: An

introduction (3rd ed., pp. 66–79). Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

Cooke, N. A. (2017). Information services to diverse populations: Developing culturally competent library

professionals (1st ed.). Libraries Unlimited.

Oakland Public Library. (n.d.). Asian branch. Retrieved September 9, 2022, from

https://test.oaklandlibrary.org/locations/asian-branch

ProLiteracy, American Library Association, & Onondaga County Public Library. (2014). Literacy through

libraries. ProLiteracy. https://www.proliteracy.org/literacy-through-libraries