Responding to hate: how national and local incidents sparked action at the UNLV University Libraries

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe how an academic library at one of the most diverse universities in the country responded to the 2016 election through the newly formed Inclusion and Equity Committee and through student outreach. Design/methodology/approach This paper details the context of the 2016 election and the role of social justice in librarianship. It offers ideas for how library diversity committees can address professional development, recruitment and retention efforts and cultural humility. It highlights student outreach efforts to support marginalized students, educate communities and promote student activism. Finally, it offers considerations and suggestions for librarians who want to engage in this work. Findings This paper shows that incorporating social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion requires individuals taking action. If institutions want to focus on any of these issues, they need to formally include them in their mission, vision and values as well as in department goals and individual job descriptions. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas University Libraries fully supports this work, but most of the labor is done by a small number of people. Unsustainable practices can cause employee burnout and turnover resulting in less internal and external efforts to support diversity. Originality/value Most of the previous literature focuses either on internal activities, such as professional development and committees, or on student-focused activities, such as outreach events, displays and instruction. This paper is one comprehensive review of both kinds of activities.

Burnout through the Lenses of Equity/Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Disabled People: A Scoping Review

“…One argued that DEI decreases burnout [234] and one argued that the purpose of DEI is to decrease burnout [235]. One argued that DEI done only by a few leads to burnout [236], a theme that was also present in the one abstract obtained by strategy 7, which examined "how unique features of diversity and inclusion (D&I) work are related to burnout" and mentioned that factors of burnout include "lack of clear job duties, conflicting job demands, lack of top management support, and experiences of tokenism" and that although "D&I professional experience higher levels of exhaustion than other professionals, they also experience greater professional efficacy" [237] (p. 38).…”

Revealing the archive, reckoning with the past: inclusive approaches to institutional history

“…Crist and Clark/Keefe (2022) use semi-structured interviews of academic librarians to explore tensions between librarians' racial identities and “desire for the field to improve” while confronting “the reflexive ambiguity and emotional discomfort that can accompany racial consciousness” (p. 10). Fiedler et al . (2020), in their case study of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Libraries, detail ways in which individuals and groups within an academic library system might take anti-racist action, both internally and through student engagement efforts, to meet the current moment and become allies on campus and in broader efforts for social justice (p. 78).…”