Professional
Overview
How we show up for work influences the experiences of others. If we are to create welcoming environments where everyone belongs, we must examine our assumptions, behaviors, decision-making processes, and how interact with others—both colleagues and the public. This path explores the relationship between our personal and professional values and how the identities we hold impact our work and profession.
Why it Matters
As professionals, we can model the behavior we want to see in the world. We make decisions – not always intentionally – about how we show up and interact with others. As we examine the power dynamics of our approach to and experience of work, we can make intentional choices to eliminate barriers, confront systemic power imbalances, and create joyful places for people to work, grow, and discover new ideas.
Foundation
Use the Pathways Tracking Document to document your learning journey.
Action Items
Cultural Humility
Cultural humility is an important cornerstone of professional growth. Creating cultures of belonging requires a lifelong commitment to self-evaluation and self-critique. We must continue learning, growing, and exploring our understanding of ourselves and the world around us, including the existing power relationships and imbalances.
Practicing cultural humility requires:
- Openness
- Self-Reflection/Awareness
- Lifelong learning
- Institutional accountability
- Empathy and compassion
- To be “other-oriented”
- Acknowledging Power Imbalances and Balancing power imbalances
(Source: Wheeler, Michael. “Cultural Competence and Cultural Humility A Literature Review for Understanding and Action.” tripartners.com, March 20, 2018.)
- Cultural Assumptions Icebreaker
- Cultural Humility Reflection Tool
View the Cultural Humility in Library Work webinar to learn more.
Collection Development
Our collection development decisions should communicate a message that all are welcome. Diverse books are crucial in libraries because they allow people to see themselves represented in literature. Read the article about Rudine Sims Bishop: ‘Mother’ of multicultural children’s literature.
Communications
Explore the importance of inclusion and representation in design and examine how your library’s signage, marketing materials, and online communication can contribute to a sense of belonging for all by viewing Designing for Diversity in Your Library’s Communications
PTB Building a Shared Culture by efreud
What are some things we can do as information professionals?
- Take risks to serve underserved populations
- Change behavior based on new information/best practices
- Find your local experts and elevate their voices
- Reexamine your ideas of how things "should" be - look for possibilities rather than limitations
- Diversify professional reading
- Advocate for your patrons beyond the library
- Be aware of where our professional and personal values overlap
Co-creation
Partnerships led by those most impacted can help libraries transform diversity, equity, and inclusion work into services and programs. Learn about co-creation and some real-life examples by reading Co-create authentically with your community.
- Webjunction: Resources on Book Challenges and Intellectual Freedom
- Patrick Power Library Blog: How and why you should diversify your reading list!
- Webjunction: Building Connections with Community Assets
- Forbes Magazine: 6 Ways to Be an Authentic Ally at Work by Holly Corbett
The Implicit Association Test (IAT)
Unconscious or implicit bias is a subconscious attitude that someone has about a group of people. Everyone holds unconscious beliefs due to a tendency to organize information by categorizing. The Implicit Association Test (IAT) measures attitudes and beliefs that people may be unwilling or unable to report. By increasing our awareness of unconscious bias, we can take steps to reduce it. Increase your own self-understanding by taking one or more Implicit Association Test(s).