ALISE Diversity Statement 

Overview

In light of events in several countries that were instigated by values that are contrary to the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE), the ALISE Board of Directors reaffirms its commitment to, and promotion of, diversity, equality, and inclusion in the library and information science (LIS) education and professional community, and condemns racism, hate, bigotry, and violence.

Diversity and inclusion are core elements of the LIS curriculum. To help LIS instructors teach and promote diversity, equality, and inclusion in their curriculum, we have compiled a list of recent works. This list is intended to serve as a living document. We encourage LIS educators, professionals, and students to use these resources in relevant learning settings to further promote these values within the communities we serve.

Diversity in LIS Education

Webinar

LIS Education, Rights, and Justice: Educating Future Librarians to Foster Digitally Inclusive and Socially Equitable Communities, by Paul Jaeger.  ALISE Xchange, October 19, 2015.

Web Resources

View the full list of web resources.

Books on Diversity and LIS Education

Cooke, N. A., & Sweeney, M. E. (Eds.) (2017). Teaching for Justice: Implementing Social Justice in the LIS Classroom.Sacramento, CA: Library Juice Press.

Cooke, N. A. (2017). Information Services to Diverse Populations: Developing Culturally Competent Library Professionals. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited.

Mehra, B., & Rioux, K. (Eds.) (2016). Progressive Community Action: Critical Theory and Social Justice in Library and Information Science. Sacramento, CA: Library Juice Press.

Samek, T. (2016). Critical reflection on librarianship and human rights: A book and continuing endeavor. In Perspectives on Libraries as Institutions of Human Rights and Social Justice (pp. 245-263). Bingley, UK:  Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Articles and Chapters on Diversity and LIS Education

Adkins, D., Virden, C., & Yier, C. (2015). Learning about diversity: The roles of LIS education, LIS associations, and lived experience. Library Quarterly, 85(2), 139-149.

Al-Qallaf, C. L., & Mika, J. J. (2013). The role of multiculturalism and diversity in library and information science: LIS education and the job market. Libri: International Journal of Libraries and Information Services, 63(1), 1-20.

Bonnici, L. L., Maatta, S. E., Wells, M. M., Brodsky, J. B., & Meadows, I. C. (2012). Physiological access as a social justice type in LIS curricula. Journal of Education for Library & Information Science, 53(2), 115-129.

Buschman, J., & Warner, D. A. (2016). On Community, justice, and libraries. Library Quarterly, 86(1), 10-24.

Caswell, M. (2017). Teaching to dismantle White Supremacy in archives. Library Quarterly, 87(3), 222-235.

Cooke, N. A. (2016). Reference services for diverse populations. In L. C. Smith and M. Wong (Eds.), Reference and Information Services: An Introduction (5^th edition). Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited, 338-366.

Cooke, N. A. (2016). Counter-Storytelling in the LIS Curriculum. In P. T. Jaeger, U. Gorham, and N. Greene Taylor (Eds.), Perspectives on Libraries as Institutions of Human Rights and Social Justice (Advances in Librarianship series, Volume 41). Emerald Group Publishing, 331-348.

Cooke, N. A., Sweeney, M. E., and Noble, S. U. (2016). Social justice as topic and tool: An attempt to transform a LIS curriculum and culture. Library Quarterly, 86(1), 107-124.

Cooke, N. A. and Minarik, J. P. (2016). Linking LIS graduate study and social justice education: Preparing students for critically conscious practice. In B. Mehra and K. Rioux (Eds.), Progressive Community Action: Critical Theory and Social Justice in Library and Information Science. Sacramento, CA: Library Juice Press. 181-214.

Dadlani, P., & Todd, R. J. (2016). Social justice as strategy: Connecting school libraries, collaboration, and IT. Library Quarterly, 86(1), 43-75.

Dali, K., & Caidi, N. (2016). A two-way street: building the recruitment narrative in LIS programs. New Library World, 117(7/8), 499-539. DOI:10.1108/NLW-03-2016-0020

Dali, K. (2015). How we missed the boat: reading scholarship and the field of LIS. New Library World, 116(9/10), 477-502. DOI:10.1108/NLW-01-2015-0007

Fox, M. J. (2014). Enabling gender-inclusivity in lis education through epistemology, ethics, and essential questions. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, 55(3), 241-250.

Hill, R. F., & Kumasi, K. (2011). Bridging the gaps: Measuring cultural competence among future school library and youth services library professionals. School Library Media Research, 14.

Honma, T. (2005). Trippin’over the color line: The invisibility of race in library and information studies. InterActions: UCLA Journal of Education and Information Studies, 1(2), 1-26.

Ismail, A. (2007). Diversity and intercultural issues in library and information science (LIS) education. New Library World, 108(9/10), 453-449. DOI:10.1108/03074800710823980

Jaeger, P. T., Shilton, K., & Koepfler, J. (2016). The rise of social justice as a guiding principle in library and information science research. Library Quarterly, 86(1), 1-9.

Jaeger, P. T., Cooke, N. A., Feltis, C., Hamiel, M., Jardine, F., & Shilton, K. (2015).  The virtuous circle revisited: Injecting diversity, inclusion, rights, justice, and equity into LIS from education to advocacy. Library Quarterly, 85(2), 150-171.

Jaeger, P. T., Sarin, L. C., & Peterson, K. J. (2015). Diversity, inclusion, and library and information science: An ongoing imperative (or Why We Still Desperately Need to Have Discussions about Diversity and Inclusion). Library Quarterly, 85(2), 127-132.

Jaeger, P. T., Subramaniam, M. M, Jones, C. B., & Bertot, J. C. (2011). Diversity and LIS education: Inclusion and the age of information. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, 52(3), 166-183.

Kumasi, K., & Hill, R. F. (2011). Are we there yet? Results of a gap analysis to measure LIS students' prior knowledge and actual learning of cultural competence concepts. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, 251-264.

Lee, S. A., Chancellor, R., Chu, C. M., Rodriguez-Mori, H., & Roy, L. (2015). Igniting Diversity: Actionable Methods and Ideas for Advancing Diversity in LIS Education in the US. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, 56, S47-S60.

McCook, K. (Ed.). (2000). Ethnic diversity in library and information science [Special issue]. Library Trends, 49(1), 1-219.

Mehra, B. (Ed.). (2015). Social justice in library and information science and services [Special issue].  Library Trends, 64(2).

Mehra, B., Olson, H. A., & Ahmad, S. (2011). Integrating diversity across the LIS curriculum: An exploratory study of instructors' perceptions and practices online. IFLA Journal, 37(1), 39–51.

Overall, P. M. (2009). Cultural competence: A conceptual framework for library and information science professionals. Library Quarterly, 79(2), 175-204.

Oxley, R. (2013). iDiversity and LIS education: Student-based groups promoting cultural competence as a vision for the profession. Library Quarterly, 83(3), 236-242.

Pawley, C. (2006). Unequal legacies: Race and multiculturalism in the LIS curriculum. Library Quarterly, 76, 149–168.

Pugh, M. (2011). Educating for the archival multiverse, American Archivist, 74(1), 69-101.

Punzalan, R. L., & Caswell, M. (2016). Critical directions for archival approaches to social justice. Library Quarterly, 86(1), 25-42.

Subramaniam, M. M., & Jaeger, P. T. (2010). Weaving diversity into LIS: An examination of diversity course offerings in iSchool programs. Education for Information, 28(1), 1-19.