Overview
In 2022, an ACRL Distance and Online Learning Section (DOLS) Executive Committee-formed task force recommended the creation of a standing Anti-racism and Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Committee. This Committee was charged to “advocate for and connect anti-racism and equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) with online learning within academic libraries.” One way the Committee aimed to do this was to connect information professionals to resources that could help them approach this work in their institutions. In Summer 2023, they published this online resource as an asynchronous space to share and obtain resources on anti-racism and EDI content related to online teaching and learning in libraries.
Contribute
This is ongoing work; there is no end date and new manifestations of old social justice issues emerge every day. To suggest additional resources to include in this guide, please complete this anonymous Anti-racist Resources for Online Teaching and Learning Google Form.
Anti-racism and EDI Advocacy Primer
Adapted from UC San Diego Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion’s Anti-racism Resources (links to podcasts, news articles, journal articles, etc.). The aforementioned link can provide helpful information, including definitions for key terms and concepts prominent in EDI work and throughout this document.
ACRL DOLS is committed to providing resources and support to library and information professionals integrating EDI and anti-racism efforts into their work. Before doing this work in an institutional context, we recognize that individual anti-racism and EDI work, including an unlearning of the imperialist white supremacist heteropatriarchy, is required. We provide these resources and tools as a non-exhaustive starting point and encourage personal exploration and reflection whilst learning and unlearning. Universities are also developing their own resource guides that often include institutional- and state-specific events, materials, and support, so keep your local allies and advocates in mind too!
- Tema Okun’s 2022 updated White Supremacy Culture site
- The Education Trust’s 2018 Educational Justice: Which Are You — an Advocate, Ally, or Activist? (8 minute read, web)
- Learning for Justice’s 2017 Ally or Accomplice? The Language of Activism (5 minute read, web)
- Amélie Lamont’s 2021 The Guide to Allyship (25 minute read, web)
- Dr. Kathy Obear’s 2021 White Accountability Groups resources, including videos, slides, and handouts
- Collective Impact Forum’s 2023 Racial Equity Toolkit (Note: Must sign up to download, PDF)
- Hannah Smothers of Vice New’s 2020 The World’s Most Basic Guide to Contacting Your Reps (10 minute read, web)
- Pew Charitable Trusts’ 2020 Racism Is a Public Health Crisis, Say Cities and Counties (6 minute read, web)
- American Public Health Association’s Racism and Health handouts, webinars, etc.
- Special Libraries Association Diversity & Inclusion Task Force’s Social Justice Resources (links to websites, LibGuides, etc.)
Anti-racism and EDI in Education
Anti-racist pedagogy
- Learning for Justice’s 2022 Social Justice Standards: A framework for anti-racist education (web plus downloadable PDF)
- Professor Juan E. Gilbert’s Guidelines for Diversity & Inclusion in Crisis (8 minute read, PDF)
- Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein’s 2020 Anti-Racism resources for white people and parents (Google Doc)
- National Museum of African American History Culture’s “Talking about Race” education platform
- Ana Cecilia Pérez’s Yes! magazine’s 2020 As Non-Black POC, We Need to Address Anti-Blackness (6 minute read)
- Yes! For Teachers Let’s talk about anti-blackness collection
- Racial Equity Tools website by Center for Assessment and Policy Development, World Trust, and MP Associates
- University of California Berkeley Libraries’ Anti-Racism Team Learning Series LibGuide, with materials for a three-part workshop series designed for library workers
- University of Wisconsin-Madison’s 2019 Disrupting Whiteness in Libraries: A Reading List (web)
- The Coalition for Diversity and Inclusion in Scholarly Communications’ 2021 Anti-Racism Toolkit for Organizations and 2020 Anti-Racism Toolkit for Allies
- Project READY (Reimagining Equity & Access for Diverse Youth) curriculum site for school and public youth services library workers
Indigenous pedagogy
- Te Paea Paringatai’s 2018 Collective leadership and participation with indigenous matters: Redefining indigenous literacy (College & Research Libraries News, 17 minute read, web)
- Vancouver Community College Library’s Indigenous Pedagogy: Decolonizing Higher Education LibGuide
- Simon Fraser University Library’s Indigenous Curriculum Resource Centre LibGuide
- Native Governance Center’s 2019 A guide to indigenous land acknowledgements (6 minute read, web)
- Duwamish Tribe’s How to make a land acknowledgement
- Native Governance Center’s 2021 Beyond Land Acknowledgements: A Guide
- Redbud Resource Group’s public workshops and events on Going Beyond Land Acknowledgements
- Theresa Stewart-Ambo and K. Wayne Yang’s 2021 Beyond Land Acknowledgements in Settler Institutions (Social Text, web)
Critical information literacy
A collection of first-hand experiences with and tools for instructors to implement critical information literacy practices in the classroom.
- Eamon Tewell’s 2016 Critical information literacy: putting it into context (In the Library with the Lead Pipe, 60 minute read, web)
- Symphony Bruce’s Critical Library Studies on American University’s Antiracist Praxis LibGuide
- Hannah Park’s Critical Information Literacy on American University’s Antiracist Praxis LibGuide
Trauma-informed pedagogy
Includes steps and resources to understand and approach trauma-informed pedagogy.
- Mays Imad of Inside Higher Ed’s 2020 Trauma Informed Pedagogy (15 minute read, web)
- Karina Hagelin’s Trauma-Informed Librarianship 101: A Resource List (web)
- The Interaction Institute for Social Change’s 2020 From Trauma to Transformative Futures: Four Dimensions framework (7 minute read, web)
Ableism
Talilah A. Lewis (2019, Longmore Lecture: Context, Clarity, and Grounding) teaches: “The root of racism is ableism; and the root of ableism is anti-Blackness. Ableism & racism have always been inextricably linked. Each of these oppressions informs the other and depends on the other to survive and thrive. Therefore, it is impossible to end racism without ending ableism, and impossible to end ableism without ending racism. Ableism is also at the root of every other oppression.” In embracing intersectionality, celebrating all bodyminds, and pursuing solidarity as a political and ethical goal, we provide these resources and tools as a non-exhaustive starting point for unlearning ableism and practicing disability justice.
Disability justice
- Sins Invalid’s 2020 What is Disability Justice? (11 minute read, web)
- The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics’ Annual Disability Statistics Compendium (web and PDF downloads)
- Invisible Disability article authored by the Invisible Disabilities Association (5 minute read, web)
Disability advocacy and education
Locate data, statistics, and definitions about disability and students with disabilities in higher education.
- The National Center for Education Statistics 2022’s Fast Facts on Students with Disabilities (6 minute read, web)
- Collegeland’s 2021 Season 2, Episode 1 Accommodations Denied podcast (36 minute listen OR transcript read, web)
- Molly Emily’s 2023 Why Attendance Policies Hurt Disabled and Chronically Ill Students (10 minute read, web)
- Martha Burtis, Matthew Cheney, Robin DeRosa, Hannah Hounsell, and Natalie Smith’s 2021 #RealCollege Blog Chronic Illness is a Real Part of College Life (13 minute read, web)
- Shalene Gupta of The Atlantic’s 2021 ‘You Have to Scream Out’: Being Black and Disabled is a Constant Struggle (11 minute read, web)
Universal Design for Learning
Universal Design for learning aka UDL stems from the architectural movement universal design, which centered design and function for all. UDL aims to change the design of the environment rather than change the learner. Guidelines developed by CAST help provide multiple means of engagement, representation, and action plus expression.
- Critical information literacy: putting it into context
- Antiracist Praxis: Critical Library Studies (American University)
- Antiracist Praxis: Critical Information Literacy (American University)
Digital accessibility
To learn more about creating accessible online content, please visit the DOLS Accessibility Resource page.
- Alex Haagaard’s 2021 Notes on Temporal Inaccessibility (7 minute read, web)
- Namita Mehta’s 2022 Unbroken (11 minute read, web)
Inclusive Online Learning
Perspectives, guidance, and tools to support racial justice and open pedagogy.
- BCcampus’s 2019 Inclusive Design Webinar Series (59 minute watch, web)
- Harvard University Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning’s Inclusive Course Design resource (web)
- Columbia University Center for Teaching and Learning’s Inclusive Online Learning resource (20 minute read, web)
- Twanna Hodge’s 2020 Using LibGuides to support racial justice & create inclusive communities (10 minute read, web)
- Karen Yin’s The Conscious Style Guide (web) on conscious language
- The Community College Consortium for Open Educational Resources’ 2017 Equity & Openness: Perspectives from North American colleges and universities (web)
- SUNY OER Community Course’s 2019 Understanding OER: Embracing Open Pedagogy unit (8 minute read plus 66 minute watch, web)
Related Library Literature
Articles and chapters for further reading and discussion.
- Blackburn, F. (2015). “The intersection between cultural competence and whiteness in libraries.” In the Library with the Lead Pipe. https://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2015/culturalcompetence/
- Cooke, N. A. (2016). Information services to diverse populations : Developing culturally competent library professionals. ABC-CLIO, LLC. https://www.worldcat.org/title/900031396
- Dunn, S. & Brown, V. (2021). “Supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion for culturally diverse online learners.” Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, 24(4). https://ojdla.com/articles/supporting-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-for-culturally-diverse-online-learners
- Gulati-Partee, G., & Potapchuk, M. (2014). “Paying attention to white culture and privilege: A missing link to advancing racial equity.” The Foundation Review, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.9707/1944-5660.1189
- Hollich, S. (2020). What it means for a disabled librarian to “pass”: An exploration of inclusion, identity, and information work. The International Journal of Information, Diversity, & Inclusion, 4(1), 94-107. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48644527
- Khuu, M. (2021, November 17). Make the library loud: Removing communication barriers for library workers with hearing loss. up//root. https://www.uproot.space/features/make-the-library-loud
- Leung, S. Y., & López-McKnight, J. R. (Eds.). (2021). Knowledge justice: Disrupting library and information studies through critical race theory. MIT Press. https://direct.mit.edu/books/oa-edited-volume/5114/Knowledge-JusticeDisrupting-Library-and
- Nataraj, L., Hampton, H., Matlin, T. R., & Meulemans, Y. N. (2020). “‘Nice white meetings’: Unpacking absurd library bureaucracy through a Critical Race Theory lens.” Canadian Journal of Academic Librarianship, 6, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.33137/cjal-rcbu.v6.34340
- Rathbun-Grubb, S. (2021). Voices of strength: A survey of librarians working with chronic illnesses or conditions. Journal of Library Administration, 61(1), 42-57. https://doi.org/10.1080/01930826.2020.1845546
- Rosen, S. (2017). Accessibility for justice: Accessibility as a tool for promoting justice in librarianship. In the Library with the Lead Pipe. https://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2017/accessibility-for-justice/
- Roth, A. and Turnbow, D. (2021). Equitable but not diverse: Universal Design for Learning is not enough. In the Library with the Lead Pipe. https://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2021/equitable-but-not-diverse/
- Schomberg, J., & Highby, W. (2021). Beyond accommodation: Creating an inclusive workplace for disabled library workers. Library Juice Press: Duluth. https://www.worldcat.org/title/1286803994
- West, J. (2021, October 6). Ask a librarian: Working towards racial justice in libraries. Librarian.net.
https://www.librarian.net/stax/5257/ask-a-librarian-working-towards-racial-justice-in-libraries/ - West, J. (2021, January 7) The problem of whiteness in libraries [PowerPoint presentation]. Vermont Library Association First Thursdays Lecture. https://www.librarian.net/talks/whiteness/index.html
- Wray, C. C. (2013). Practical strategies for making online library services and instruction accessible to all patrons. Journal of Library & Information Services in Distance Learning, 7(4), 360–371. https://doi.org/10.1080/1533290X.2013.844219
History and Future of this Resource
This resource was published in May 2023 after multiple calls for submissions were sent to all ALA and ACRL Members via Connect. Thanks to DOLS Anti-racism and EDI Committee members Brittni Ballard, Kelsey Diemand, Niki Fullmer, Sam Harlow, and Kaiya Schroeder for this work!
Future DOLS Anti-racism and EDI Committee members will review this resource annually, including checking that links are functional, reviewing existing resources to ensure they remain relevant, and adding new items, sections, or context as necessary.