A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views. – Library Bill of Rights

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With today’s social and cultural landscape in the United States, diversity is a timely topic to consider for all professions, especially librarians. Librarians have a responsibility – both professionally and ethically – to provide information for all regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and socioeconomic status. People of diverse backgrounds are often the most vulnerable citizens in our society, and as such, benefit from the services and materials that libraries provide the most. For this competency, I first would like to discuss what libraries are required to do, and then what libraries can do to promote diversity in the library and in the larger community. I have approached the discussion for this competency by breaking the topic down into challenges and opportunities for providing services to special populations of library patrons.

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Cultural and economic diversity are two types of diversity that have an important impact on libraries and information services. As information professionals, we have a duty to provide services to people from various cultural and economic backgrounds. Cultural diversity refers to the people of different backgrounds that come together in a community. It is important that libraries identify the different cultural groups in the community who could benefit from library services, and create meaningful programs and services for these potential patrons. Economic diversity is also an important factor for libraries to consider when planning for services and materials. There are certain populations who lack resources at home that libraries provide. Part of the challenge is getting these patrons to use the library, and that can be accomplished by doing an environmental scan and finding out who your library users are, and what programs and services would be beneficial to that group.

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Challenges – The Digital Divide

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People may seek to use the library because they have little means of meeting their information needs at home. In my discussion of competency A, I discussed a concept referred to among information professionals as the digital divide. For the purposes of this competency, the digital divide refers to the gap between the population of people who do not have access to the Internet and other technologies (usually poor, underprivileged, handicapped, or elderly), and those who do have access to the Internet and technology. Libraries provide this access for those who may not otherwise have it. This is an important service as more and more information is shifted from print and other materials to the web. Job training, college courses, and searches for resources for people with special needs are all things that are easy to access online. But, access is the key. Increasingly students need access to computers and the Internet to conduct research and complete assignments. Without access to these resources, student performance and motivation suffers.

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Challenges – Literacy and Communication

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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) defines literacy as the "ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate and compute, using printed and written materials associated with varying contexts.” Libraries have a responsibility to offer services to people who may face literacy challenges. One of the most prevalent challenges that I see as an acting information professional are those individuals who speak limited English. Often these patrons struggle to read and communicate in English, and therefore struggle with constructing meaning and communicating effectively. Some of the ways that libraries are combating these issues are by prioritizing diversity in hiring, and selecting candidates who speak multiple languages, and by providing materials in languages other than English. Some libraries also offer English as a second language courses to help those who would like to develop their English language skills.

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Challenges – Individuals with Disabilities

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The Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. This act defines a disability as an impairment that limits a person’s ability to engage in day-to-day activities (ADA, 1990). Living with a disability can be challenging, and disabled people often have distinct and meaningful information needs that we as information professionals must be aware of, and accommodate to the best of our ability. Disabilities can be physical or neurological, and each type of disability presents its own distinct challenges and needs. The library that I am currently employed in offers wheelchair access and computer stations that are wheelchair accessible. We also have computer stations set up for individuals who are visually impaired with screen readers and software with text-to-speech capabilities. Many public libraries are now offering services for patrons on the Autism spectrum, including support and outreach; helping to connect individuals with Autism and their families with local and statewide resources.

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Opportunities: Moving Forward

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Libraries offer a supportive community for people with diverse needs. However, as information professionals, our goal should go beyond meeting needs to promoting and celebrating diversity. This can be accomplished through a variety of programs, outreach, and community partnerships. One thing that many libraries already do is promote diversity through collection materials. Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and Pride Month are a few examples of times throughout the year when collection materials and displays are created to celebrate people of diverse backgrounds. Some libraries offer an option to check out a person, where members of the community can come together to learn about other people. These types of events create a solid foundation, but can be expanded upon to create more opportunities to recognize and celebrate diversity.

In addition to promoting diversity through collections, some libraries also offer services to assist people with special needs. Bookmobiles are one way to bring materials to patrons who lack the ability to get to the library themselves due to age, disability, or lack of transportation. Some libraries are now combating the digital divide by providing Internet hubs, or hot spots that patrons can check out. Libraries also partner with local organizations to display information of interest such as support groups, local resources, and local food drives.

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Evidence:

In evidence of my mastery of this competency, I am submitting two artifacts. The first is an assignment I completed for INFO 210: Reference and Information Services on providing reference services for a special population. For this assignment, I had to identify a special population and discuss their needs and how to develop reference services to meet those needs. For my assignment, I chose individuals with neurological disorders, with a specific focus on Autism. As the number of people with Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome increases, services for these patrons are of growing importance to the field.

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My second piece of evidence in support of this competency also comes from my Reference and Information Services class. This assignment focused on serving patrons with diverse needs. For this assignment, I choose to discuss reference needs for individuals who speak English as a second language. I discussed ways to approach the reference interview to ensure that communication barriers are addressed in such a way as to not become an obstacle, or a source of library anxiety for the user. In the library that I work at, many students speak English as a second language. I see firsthand the obstacles that some of these students face. As information professionals, it is important that we make all of our patrons comfortable and that we consider their needs when performing services, such as reference. I believe that this piece of evidence demonstrates my awareness of cultural diversity in the library, and the importance of accommodating patrons with diverse needs.

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Conclusion:

As the parent of a person with disabilities, this competency is important to me both personally and professionally. Libraries should be spaces where all people all welcome, and can feel a sense of community. Sometimes there are obstacles like access or language barriers that need to be overcome in order for the library to fulfill its mission, but as we move into the future, diversity becomes something to be celebrated rather than accommodated. In my evidence for this competency, I discuss providing reference services for two special populations, individuals with Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome, and those who speak English as a second language. While there are many more aspects of diversity to be examined in libraries, I focused on these two in particular because they are relevant to me in my personal and professional life, as these two populations are included in many of my daily interactions and activities.

 

References:

American Library Association. (2006). Library Bill of Rights. Retrieved August 29, 2018 from: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill

 

UNESCO. (2006). "Education for All: A Global Monitoring Report". UNESCO. UNESCO. p. 150.