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<\/p>\nAfter reading Jennifer Vinopal\u2019s article, \u201cThe Quest for Diversity in Library Staffing: From Awareness to Action\u201d (2016), I have to admit I wasn\u2019t surprised at the lack of diversity in the American Library system, but I did feel nonetheless a deep sense of disappointment. After reviewing the latest numbers published by the American Library Association (2009-2010), 88% of the credentialed librarians in this country are white. Of the 22% in our field that represent African Americans, Asian and Pacific Islanders (API), Native Americans, including Alaskan, Two or more races, and Latinos, there are only 138 active African American library directors in the US, according to Michael Kelley in \u201cDiversity Never Happens: The Story of Minority Hiring Doesn\u2019t Seem To Change Much.\u201d He also notes that \u201cAfrican Americans and Hispanics are some of the strongest supporters of libraries, and yet they continue to be thinly represented among the ranks of librarians.\u201d All of these figures are very disturbing, to say the least, and left me asking myself the same question, what can we do to effectively challenge the current racial and power structures that exist in our profession? (Hudson, 2017) I don\u2019t believe that I have an answer, not just yet, but I want to be part of the conversation and take a stand.<\/p>\n
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In \u201cThe myth of the neutral professional\u201d (2006), Jensen challenges us to stand up and take a side because \u201cneutrality is impossible.\u201d He continues, \u201c[i]n any situation, there exists a distribution of power…To take no explicit position by claiming to be neutral is also a political choice, particularly when one is given the resources that make it easy to evaluate the consequences of that distribution of power and, at least potentially, affect its distribution.\u201d We as LIS students have the resources. So now it is time for us to choose a side. Are we to stand by and idly watch as this lack of diversity continues to repeat itself, or do we choose to use our privilege and resources to affect change? We need to look at the failures of past diversity programs and not allow ourselves to repeat those failures by \u201cdiversifying without dismantling power differentials\u201d (Vinopal, 2016) that currently exist.<\/p>\n
These racial and power structures are not limited to the LIS profession, they are deeply entrenched in every area of our society today. But who will we be tomorrow? In \u201cWhy Diversity Matters: A Roundtable Discussion on Racial And Ethnic Diversity in Librarianship,\u201d Juleah Swanson, Head of Acquisition Services at the University of Colorado Boulder, gives us a great place to start by asking ourselves, \u201cWhat innovative ways can we educate and teach colleagues and students about complex issues like microaggressions, institutional racism, and privilege, reflecting both traditional means of teaching such as lectures and readings, and through learned experiences?\u201d It is our responsibility as LIS students to continue to research and try to understand why these racial and power systems exist and lead the change that will diversify and better our profession.<\/p>\n
\u201c \u2018Diversity\u2019 is named and defined in places of great power.\u201d – Sandra R\u00edos Balderrama<\/p>\n
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References<\/p>\n
Balderrama, S. (2000). This Trend Called Diversity. Library Trends: Ethnic Diversity in Library and Information Science<\/i> 49 (1): 194-214.<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.ala.org\/aboutala\/sites\/ala.org.aboutala\/files\/content\/diversity\/diversitycounts\/diversitycountstables2012.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n Hudson, D. J. (2017). On \u201cDiversity\u201d as Anti-Racism in Library and Information Studies: A Critique. Journal of Critical Library and Information Studies<\/i> 1(1). DOI: 10.24242\/jclis.v1i1.6<\/p>\n Jensen, R. (2006). The myth of the neutral professional. Questioning Library Neutrality<\/i>, ed. A. Lewis. Library Juice, 89\u201396. http:\/\/jonah.eastern.edu\/emme\/2006fall\/jensen.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n Kelley, M. (2013). Diversity Never Happens: The Story of Minority Hiring Doesn\u2019t Seem To Change Much | Editorial. http:\/\/lj.libraryjournal.com\/2013\/02\/opinion\/editorial\/diversity-never-happens-the-story-of-minority-hiring-doesnt-seem-to-change-much\/#_<\/a> .<\/p>\n Swanson, J., Damasco, I., Gonzalez-Smith, I., Hodges, D., Honma, T., and Tanaka, A. (2015) Why Diversity Matters: A Roundtable Discussion on Racial And Ethnic Diversity in Librarianship. http:\/\/www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org\/2015\/why-diversity-matters-a-roundtable-discussion-on-racial-and-ethnic-diversity-in-librarianship\/<\/a> .<\/p>\n