Diversity and Inclusion in Libraries: A Call to Action and Strategies for Success

The news and scholarly literature are replete with stories and articles describing the challenges that diverse individuals face in their local communities and workplaces. In Diversity and Inclusion in Libraries: A Call to Action and Strategies for Success, more than 30 contributors share their experiences as advocates and supporters of equity, diversity, and inclusion in libraries and librarianship. The book is arranged in three parts: "Why Diversity and Inclusion Matter," explores the role diversity and inclusion has played in librarianship, addressing the question of its importance and relevance from the historical perspective to the present day. "Equipping the Library Staff" shares experiences, lessons learned, practical strategies, and challenges faced when building a library staff that is not only diverse, but also equipped with the knowledge and experiences needed to serve a diverse clientele. "Voices from the Field," presents individuals from diverse backgrounds share their stories who, frankly and honestly, offering potential strategies for meeting challenges faced in the everyday workplace. This book tackles these issues head on and should appeal to a broad audience whose interest is in diversity as it relates to libraries and librarianship, including professional librarians and paraprofessional library staff. It is the collective responsibility of all information professionals to create opportunities where individuals are encouraged and supported to bring their most authentic selves to the library. This level of authenticity will come as a result of intentional effort to cultivate spaces where people feel free to use whichever personal pronouns suit them, where individuals feel safe and comfortable to use the same support and professional development as their white counterparts, where diverse individuals can speak their truths and bring lived experiences to discussions without being attacked, mocked, or abused in the workplace, and where barriers that may prevent people with disabilities from taking full advantage of library services and spaces are removed. This book will help libraries realize that level of inclusion.