Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Embedding Inclusive Excellence In An Academic Library: Strategic Planning & Infrastructure Considerations, Ione T. Damasco

Roesch Library Faculty Presentations

While many of our libraries have issued public statements declaring a commitment to greater diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), many of us have struggled with how to move beyond words to enacting sustained, anti-oppressive actions. We will look at one library that used a multi-pronged, stepped approach to embed inclusive excellence as a framework in every department. Inclusive excellence recognizes an institution’s ability to succeed is dependent upon how fully it values, engages, and includes the rich diversity of each of its members. First, the library formalized its diversity committee, developing a charge and requiring representation from each department. Second, …

Kick Back And Relax: Creating A Radical Sense Of Belonging In Our Libraries, Ione T. Damasco

Roesch Library Faculty Presentations

Libraries are places that hold the ability to connect people from different backgrounds and life experiences. However, despite that being the goal, sometimes stories are left out, experiences aren’t told, and identities are not represented. In this keynote address, Ione Damasco shares how her library has been able to make connections across campus with partners to develop and implement programming that fosters a more inclusive campus environment and how other libraries might do the same.

From Being To Doing: Anti-Racism As Action At Work, Ione T. Damasco

Roesch Library Faculty Presentations

Over the past few years, the conversation around equity in libraries has focused on thinking of the word ally as a verb, rather than as an identity. With recent events highlighting specific issues around race, the conversation has now shifted to many people wanting to be anti-racist. In this session, we will focus on anti-racism as action, rather than using the word anti-racist as identity. In particular, we will examine our notions of professionalism in libraries. Can changing how we define professionalism in library workplaces be an example of anti-racist action?

We will take a critical look at how certain …

Calling In Vs. Calling Out: Conflict Resolution In Polarized Times, Ione T. Damasco, Dracine Hodges

Roesch Library Faculty Presentations

Recent events in the field of librarianship as well as in broader American society have prompted lots of conversations around race. For many, these are difficult discussions. In light of these issues, how do we connect our lived experiences to organizational culture? This session explored the complex intersections of interpersonal communication and institutional accountability and potential ways to resolve racial conflict at multiple levels.

Developing A Social Justice Mindset In Technical Services, Ione T. Damasco

Roesch Library Faculty Presentations

These days, the words "equity," "diversity," and "inclusion" are used throughout libraries. But what do people mean when they use these words? And how do these words manifest in library technical services work? In this talk, participants explored how they can give these words real power when they frame them within a social justice mindset. The program started with an understanding of who participants are as individuals and how they fit into larger systems and structures of societal oppression. They they explored together how their work in technical services can contribute to the dismantling of those systems to ensure a …

Competencies In Action: Acrl Standards And Library Diversity Plans, Ione T. Damasco

Roesch Library Faculty Presentations

In 2012, ACRL published Diversity Standards: Cultural Competency for Academic Libraries to guide academic libraries to better serve diverse populations. How do academic library diversity plans incorporate these ACRL standards? What standards are underrepresented? This poster will show intersections between diversity plans collected from U.S. academic libraries and the standards through content analysis. Those engaged in diversity efforts will learn how to integrate these standards into their own plans to ensure inclusive learning environments.