Practical Tips for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Libraries

by Beth Montague-Hellen

Overview

Libraries can find themselves struggling to identify and serve the needs of their whole community, ensuring they take into consideration all nine characteristics protected by the UK Equality Act. By addressing protected characteristics and identifying issues that affect staff and patrons – such as mental health, sexuality and gender and socio-economic background – this book provides a selection of ideas to develop a diverse, inclusive and welcoming environment in modern libraries. More importantly, it highlights the positive and sometimes negative impact EDI activities can have, whilst introducing a wide range of new and innovative projects to inspire readers.

Readers will be introduced to the main topics and challenges of diversity and inclusion as well as being provided with up-to-date information on recent case studies to help them gain a wider perspective. Featuring practical examples of actions to make a difference, this book provides step-by-step advice on how libraries and librarians can work to make their spaces and services more inclusive for all and to increase the diversity of library workforces.

Topics covered include:

• policies and actions
• inclusive staff environments
• physical space events and visitors
• decolonising and diversifying collections.

Librarians will be equipped to assess their own library, identify challenges, address issues with confidence and start to make concrete changes to improve diversity and inclusion in their space.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781783306046
Publisher:	Facet Publishing
Publication date:	09/05/2024
Series:	PTLIP Practical Tips for Library and Information Professionals
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Beth moved into libraries after a career as an evolutionary biologist, seeing than she could have a far greater impact by supporting others than by continuing as a researcher herself.

Beth retrained at the University of Sheffield Information School, and having previously worked as a researcher support librarian at the University of Sheffield, Bishop Grossteste University and the University of Nottingham, is currently Head of Library and Information Services at the Francis Crick Institute. Beth has a wealth of experience working in equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) projects and campaigns. In 2020 Beth jointly won the Royal Society Athena Prize for setting up the LGBTQ+ STEMinar, a conference designed to give a space where researchers in the STEM fields can discuss and present their research in a supporting atmosphere. Beth has also previously been shortlisted for the Gay Times Barbara Burford Award for Excellence in STEM.

Previously as the Diversity and Inclusions Officer for the Yorkshire and Humberside CILIP Members' Network and currently as Co-chair of the CILIP LGBTQ+ Network, Beth works with other Librarians to help them support Equality, Diversity and Inclusions efforts within the Libraries sector. She is also a strong supporter of UKSG and has recently joined the editorial board at the journal Insights.

Beth lives in Yorkshire with her wife and currently spends her free time reading, gardening, powerlifting and playing computer games. An eclectic mix.

Beth moved into libraries after a career as an evolutionary biologist, seeing than she could have a far greater impact by supporting others than by continuing as a researcher herself.

Beth retrained at the University of Sheffield Information School, and having previously worked as a researcher support librarian at the University of Sheffield, Bishop Grossteste University and the University of Nottingham, is currently Head of Library and Information Services at the Francis Crick Institute. Beth has a wealth of experience working in equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) projects and campaigns. In 2020 Beth jointly won the Royal Society Athena Prize for setting up the LGBTQ+ STEMinar, a conference designed to give a space where researchers in the STEM fields can discuss and present their research in a supporting atmosphere. Beth has also previously been shortlisted for the Gay Times Barbara Burford Award for Excellence in STEM.

Previously as the Diversity and Inclusions Officer for the Yorkshire and Humberside CILIP Members' Network and currently as Co-chair of the CILIP LGBTQ+ Network, Beth works with other Librarians to help them support Equality, Diversity and Inclusions efforts within the Libraries sector. She is also a strong supporter of UKSG and has recently joined the editorial board at the journal Insights.

Beth lives in Yorkshire with her wife and currently spends her free time reading, gardening, powerlifting and playing computer games. An eclectic mix.

Table of Contents

Introduction

1. First Steps

2. Compliance and Beyond

3. Policies and Actions

4. Inclusive Staff Environments

5. Collections, Resources and Services 49

6. Physical Space

7. Decolonising and Diversifying Collections

8. Supporting Research

9. Events and Visitors

10. Training

11. Final Thoughts

Editorial Reviews

"This is a useful handbook unpicking the descriptors and acronyms behind EDI, a recently evolved term used to encapsulate work and formal policies around equality, diversity and inclusion (as well as other occasionally included terms like equity, justice, belonging and dignity and similarly used acronyms DEI and D&I) ... Considering the content, this book would be valuable for library management tasked with writing an EDI policy, facing specific local issues or any library staff with an interest any aspect of equality and inclusion looking to formalize projects and viewpoints into suitable presentations for management consideration. It could also be included in library and information course reading lists and library collections as an initial reference book for these issues."
— Catalogue & Index

From the Publisher