From Being To Doing: Anti-racism as Action at Work

Over the past few years, the conversation around equity in libraries has focused on thinking of the word ally as a verb, rather than as an identity. With recent events highlighting specific issues around race, the conversation has now shifted to many people wanting to be anti-racist. In this session, we will focus on anti-racism as action, rather than using the word anti-racist as identity. In particular, we will examine our notions of professionalism in libraries. Can changing how we define professionalism in library workplaces be an example of anti-racist action? We will take a critical look at how certain hallmarks of white supremacist culture inform our notions of professionalism and acceptable workplace culture. These commonly accepted traits can actually contribute to low morale, the prevalence of microaggressions, retention issues, etc. Together, we will explore ways to transform our workplace cultures by looking at specific actions that resist these hallmarks in order to create equitable workplaces.

Ione T. Damasco, M.L.I.S. Professor and Director of Information Acquisition & Organization at the University of Dayton she/her/hers

Ione T. Damasco, M.L.I.S., is a Professor and Director of Information Acquisition & Organization at the University of Dayton, where she provides leadership, guidance, and support for technical services work in the University Libraries. She is also the Chair of the University Libraries Diversity & Inclusion Team, which serves as a resource around diversity, equity, and inclusion endeavors across all areas and for every unit of the Libraries. Along with several faculty and staff from around campus, she is part of the Dialogue Zone Steering Committee, which is dedicated to programming and other initiatives around different forms of dialogue that take place in a new library space called the Dialogue Zone. Her most recent research has centered on race and diversity issues in librarianship, and potential uses of intergroup dialogue as a form of experiential learning focused on social justice outcomes in libraries. Learn more about her work and research.

This presentation will be prerecorded with a live Q&A.