Libraries

Cultural humility holds promise as a transformative approach to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts within librarianship. We hope to create a book that helps realize that promise by increasing our understanding of how the practice of cultural humility applies across all types of libraries and library services.

Cultural humility is “the ability to maintain an interpersonal stance that is other oriented in relation to aspects of cultural identity that are most important to the other person, the ability to recognize the context in which interactions occur, and a commitment to redress power imbalances and other structural issues to benefit all parties.” (Hurley et al, 549) Cultural humility therefore offers a way of navigating the spontaneous interpersonal interactions in libraries, whether between our patrons and our staff or staff members with one another, with an awareness of and commitment to challenging inequitable structures of power.

We invite chapters that explore or demonstrate the concept of cultural humility in libraries as a practice rooted in self-reflection, compassion, and appreciation of the “other.” Proposals may be practical, theoretical, and/or research-based, considering libraries as workplaces (i.e. diversifying and educating the profession, leadership, conflict management) and/or how libraries serve our communities (i.e. collection development, reference & outreach services, technical services, access services, instruction).

We especially seek and welcome submissions from and about voices that are underrepresented in the literature, including those of people of color, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, school librarians, public librarians, and librarians from other non-academic contexts.

Final chapters should be approximately 4000-5000 words, aimed at both practicing library professionals and students in Masters of Library Science programs. Chapter proposals of about 300 words and a short bio can be submitted here.

Important dates

• March 1 - Chapter proposals due

• April 1 - Editor decision on proposals

• July 1 - Draft chapter submissions due

• August 9 - Editor feedback to authors

• September 15 - Author final revisions to chapters due