I think a lot about what it means to create a space where everyone feels welcome. If the notion of “feeling welcome” sounds kind of abstract, I remind myself that inclusion isn’t abstract at all. It’s specific and located in small moments that make those big foundational values of librarianship tangible. Small steps help build a practice, so here are some reflections on books and ideas that get me thinking about what it means to build a sense of belonging.
Tag: belonging
Creating a Diversi-TEAM at #alaac23
No matter the size of your library or your community, diversity is an important part of our experiences. This session was presented by Joselyn Williams and Chris Robinson. Their key idea: No one should be made to feel less than, unwelcomed, or judged. No characteristic or trait should outweigh your worth as a person. Examples included gender, race, ethnicity, age, cultural background, religion, political views, native language, sexual orientation, disabilities, education, and more. The Diversi-TEAM concept combines two elements: diversity and team. In this case, TEAM stands for Through Education Achieve More. This underscores the importance of education in addressing problems with insensitivity and microaggressions. Often, we aren’t aware of our microaggressions. The first step: being aware of our biases and understanding what counts as a microaggression. As an individual and as a leader, you can be the first example. By doing the hard work to recognize your biases and…