ACRL is dedicated to creating diverse and inclusive communities in the Association and in academic and research libraries. This core commitment permeates the work of the Association, cutting across all ACRL sections, committees, interest and discussion groups, and communities of practice. The Association will acknowledge and address historical racial inequities; challenge oppressive systems within academic libraries; value different ways of knowing; and identify and work to eliminate barriers to equitable services, spaces, resources, and scholarship. ACRL Plan for Excellence, Revised to include Core Commitment November 2018.
On January 28, 2022, the ACRL Board of Directors approved a fifth strategic goal area dedicated to Equity Diversity and Inclusion and that the existing ACRL Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee become a goal-area committee. The Board approved the EDI goal and objectives during an asynchronous virtual vote held November 2, 2022 to November 8, 2022. More information on the development of the ACRL strategic plan can be found on the ACRL Strategic Planning and ACRL History pages.
See below for ACRL Presents: ACRL’s Strategic Vision for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion to learn more on the development and implementation of ACRL's EDI goal area.
Learn more about ACRL's core commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in this video featuring 2019-20 ACRL President Karen Munro.
To support academic librarians and to align ACRL's strategic plan with ALA's Strategic Directions, the ACRL Board of Directors approved, in the fall 2018, a new Core Commitment to Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) to be added to the ACRL Plan for Excellence. The goal of the Core Commitment is for EDI to permeate all areas of the association, so that ACRL is poised to best support equitable, inclusive, and diverse librarianship. Through this commitment, ACRL will acknowledge and address historical racial inequities; challenge oppressive systems within academic libraries; value different ways of knowing; and identify and work to eliminate barriers to equitable services, spaces, resources, and scholarship.
On January 28, 2022, the ACRL Board of Directors approved a fifth strategic goal area dedicated to Equity Diversity and Inclusion and approved the existing ACRL Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee as a goal-area committee. Seeking input from member stakeholders, a Board working group was charged with drafting the Equity Diversity and Inclusion goals and objectives. At the one-day Strategic Planning and Orientation Session (SPOS), held in-person on June 23, 2022, during the ALA Annual Conference in Washington, DC, ACRL Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee 2021-2022 Chair Maisha Carey facilitated a discussion with Board members and senior staff to help develop the new EDI goal and objectives. During August and early September 2023, the EDI Committee held five committee meetings, where work was completed on the new goal and objectives. At the October 11, 2022 ACRL Fall Board Virtual Meeting, the Board discussed the proposed goal and objectives. These were further refined and the Board approved the goal and objectives during an asynchronous virtual vote held November 2, 2022 to November 8, 2022.
Hotel rooms are available with all kinds of accessibility accommodations. When booking your hotel room, you can request the specific room type needed for your stay. ACRL housing staff may contact you to confirm your needs. We recommend reconfirming your request directly with the hotel prior to arrival as well.
The conference team coordinates complimentary interpreting services upon request for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. To use the service, interpreter requests should be made prior to conference attendance by contacting acrl@ala.org before February 1, 2023
Real-time auto-closed captioning will be provided in every live session in the virtual platform. We also offer personal Communication Access Real-time Translation (CART) upon request in which a certified CART provider listens to speech and instantaneously translates all the speech to text displayed on a live URL on an additional browser tab or mobile device.
In the spirit of equity, ACRL seeks to provide opportunity to underrepresented groups that have been historically marginalized or excluded due to race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, economic background, age, and/or disability. We also seek participants from all types of libraries, positions, and experiences, including nonlibrary faculty, staff, and administrators. Individuals are encouraged to address how their proposed sessions and their personal and professional experiences will advance these goals, promote equity and inclusion, and broaden the perspectives of conference attendees.
ACRL offers reimbursement up to a pre-determined maximum for childcare and/or dependent expenses that are incurred as a direct result of attendance at ACRL 2023 and are not part of an attendee's regular childcare and/or dependent care plan. Reimbursement requests must be completed and received by April 14, 2023. For more information and to receive a reimbursement form, please email acrl@ala.org.
Please see the Convention Center Accessibility Information for information on accessible parking, elevators, wheelchair availability, and facility maps.
The ACRL 2021 Innovations Committee was re-imagined for ACRL 2023 to the Experience and Inclusion Committee with an updated charge more focused on inclusivity and accessible design strategies. The updated charge for the committee includes recommending innovations and inclusive practices to enhance the experience of attending the in-person event for all participants. These innovations may include social, networking, and inclusion aspects of the conference, along with health, wellness, and/or accessibility efforts that ACRL may contract for through professional consultants and providers.
The ACRL 2023 Conference Registration form provides an area to inform event staff of any allergies and/or dietary needs you may have. While ACRL doesn't provide any meals as part of the conference, we do plan receptions and morning and afternoon breaks with these needs in mind.
ACRL has motorized scooters available on a first-come, first-served basis for attendees that require mobility assistance. ACRL offers these scooters on a complimentary basis during conference hours. Scooters are for use in the convention center only. Scooter pick-up and drop-off will be on level three in room 312 (accessible by elevator or escalator). You may be asked to sign-out and return the scooters daily. If you require mobility assistance and would like to reserve a scooter prior to the conference, please contact acrl@ala.org before February 1, 2023, and we will be happy to reserve a scooter for you.
Feel free to bring your little one and care for your baby wherever you’d like during the conference. There is also a room specifically for mothers to relax, pump, and/or breast feed on the second level concourse between halls A&B. There is optional privacy as well as a glider/rocking chair and refrigerator in the room.
ACRL encourages the use of an optional strategy called progressive stacking when asking questions in the conference app. This is a technique intended to give marginalized voices a chance to speak, particularly in an environment where there is a dominant group. If you choose to self-identify as belonging to a marginalized group, especially a marginalized racial or ethnic group, and you’d like to ask a question in the chat, you can include an asterisk at the start of your question or comment. Using progressive stacking helps moderators and presenters facilitate more voices being heard.
In order to allow as many individuals as possible to participate as conference presenters, an individual may submit (or be included as a co-presenter on) a maximum of two proposals for the spring deadline (June 3, 2022) and a maximum of two proposals for the fall deadline (October 14, 2022). While this means a potential maximum of four total submissions, an individual can present a maximum of two times during the ACRL Conference. If an individual is accepted for more than two programs, the individual will need to confirm with ACRL which two programs they plan to present/be listed in the program in order to comply with the two-presentation limit.
All registrants have access to a variety of presentation types to suit your learning style and comfort level. From 5 minutes to 60 minutes in length, there is a great deal of variety! Select conference programs will be available on the virtual conference platform free for all registrants for one year after the conference dates. Recordings are typically not captioned, but captioned versions are available upon request to acrl@ala.org. The ACRL 2023 Virtual Platform provided by Pathable is screen readable and sessions are enabled through Zoom and utilize Zoom's accessibility features.
The ACRL 2023 conference will offer a wealth of programming on equity, diversity, and inclusion topics. Sort the conference agenda by this tag and continue your learning.
When filling out your profile for the event, please include your pronouns so everyone can be referred to correctly.
The ACRL 2023 proposal rubric was revised to provide expanded preference to proposals from underrepresented groups that have been historically marginalized or excluded due to race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, economic background, age, and/or ability.
Relax with dim lighting and comfortable chairs anytime you’d like on level 3 in room 325 . Next door in room 324 you will find a quiet work room. Bring your own device/headphones and catch up on work, emails, or conference content. Room 338 is available anytime for prayer and reflection.
Restrooms are located on every level of the convention center and are equipped for wheelchair accessibility. All-gender restrooms can be found on level 3.
To help reduce noise in the roundtable sessions, and improve the experience for everyone, roundtable sessions have been given their own designated space and distanced twice as far apart as in previous years.
The Scholarship Committee removed the requirement of an official recommendation to apply for scholarships, as well as preference for ACRL/ALA members in awarding scholarships, expanded eligibility with a new category of Career Librarian 16+ years, and expanded the preference given to applications from underrepresented groups that have been historically marginalized or excluded due to race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, economic background, age, and/or disability.
Service animals are welcome throughout the conference. The convention center requires that service animals are specifically trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability and must remain on a leash or in a harness and be under control of the guest with a disability or a designee. Please let us know by contacting acrl@ala.org before February 1, 2023, and we will be happy to help make comfortable arrangements for your service animal. Restrooms are located on every level of the convention center and are equipped for wheelchair accessibility. All-gender restrooms can be found on level 3.
ACRL provides Speakers and Moderators with training, encourages universal design, and provides resources and tips for accessible presentations and webinars on Implicit Bias and Uncovering Privilege and Addressing Microaggressions in the Speaker Resources page (coming soon) to watch before preparing presentations.
ACRL staff attended six hours of training at a Disability Inclusion Institute hosted by Access Living. Based in Chicago, Access Living’s mission is to ignite disability power and pride, provide critical services, and break down systemic barriers to create a stronger, more inclusive society. Their staff and board are made up of mostly people who have disabilities because they believe that people with disabilities are their own best advocates. They champion the mantra “nothing about us without us” and use it as a guiding principle in their work. The Disability Inclusion Institute increased staff’s knowledge on disability rights and etiquette and explored best practices for enhancing the accessibility of ACRL's digital and event offerings.
If it is useful for you to have an advance copy of our program in an alternate format so you can print to your preferred font size, or you have other visual needs, please contact acrl@ala.org before February 1, 2023, and we will be happy to assist you.
ACRL 2021 Call for Participation Equity Statement
In support of ACRL’s Core Commitment, the ACRL 2021 Coordinating Committee developed an Equity Statement that is included in the ACRL 2021 Call for Participation. The committee strives to develop an inclusive conference program that reflects the library community’s diverse range of race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, economic background, age, and/or ability. In addition, to allow as many individuals as possible to participate as conference presenters, the committee established presentation limits for the first time at an ACRL Conference. An individual can present a maximum of two times at ACRL 2021, regardless of session format or presenter role.
ACRL 2021 Land Acknowledgement
The Association of College & Research Libraries, a Division of the American Library Association acknowledges the land and water it originally intended the conference to gather on; there are 29 tribal nations in Washington. The ancestral homelands of those American Indian tribes that have inhabited this place for centuries, include the Chehalis, Colville, Cowlitz, Hoh, Jamestown S’Klallam, Kalispel, Lower Elwha Klallam, Lummi, Makah, Muckleshoot, Nisqually, Nooksack, Port Gamble S’Klallam, Puyallup, Quileute, Quinault, Samish, Sauk-Suiattle, Shoalwater Bay, Skokomish, Snoqualmie, Spokane, Squaxin Island, Stillaguamish, Suquamish, Swinomish, Tulalip, Upper Skagit, and Yakama. In addition, the ACRL recognizes the Duwamish, Wanapum, and Chinook; tribes working for recognition by the U.S. federal government and have a long history in present-day Washington. Full statement on the ACRL Conference website.
Progressive Stacking Questions
ACRL encourages the use of an optional strategy called progressive stacking when asking questions. This is a technique intended to give marginalized voices a chance to speak, particularly in an environment where there is a dominant group. Learn more about progressive stacking in the General Information section of the conference community.
ACRL Core Commitment and Site Selection & Policies
In Spring 2020, the ACRL Board approved updates to the ACRL Guide to Policies and Procedures for Section 10.8: Site Selection Criteria and Procedures and Section 11.1.10: Site Selection to reflect ACRL's Core Commitment to EDI. Updates included that, "ACRL is committed to making all professional development programs, to the best of their ability, inclusive and accessible to all members. This includes programming, educational components, and accessibility. ACRL is dedicated to creating diverse and inclusive communities in the Association and in academic and research libraries. These commitments permeate the work of the Association, cutting across all ACRL sections, committees, interest and discussion groups, communities of practice, as well as our professional development programming and site selection."
Presenter Training
ACRL 2021 Conference presenters were required to view two webinars (Implicit Bias and Uncovering Privilege and Addressing Microaggressions), which were developed by the American Library Association (ALA) Office of Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services (ODLOS) before preparing for their presentation. The purpose of these webinars was to provide context and understanding of the concepts of equity, diversity, and inclusion, and help ACRL 2021 presenters understand how to incorporate these concepts into their presentations.
ACCESSIBILITY
Guidelines for All Presenters
EQUITY AND INCLUSION
Recommendations for All Presenters
ACRL is active in advocating for policy and legislation through the ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office in DC, as well as through coalition work with groups such as the Open Access Working Group and the Library Copyright Alliance (LCA). Each year, the ACRL Government Relations Committee develops, with input from ACRL member leaders and the ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office, the ACRL Legislative Agenda, which provides information meant to guide legislative advocacy at the national level—specifically focusing on policy issues of concern to academic and research librarians. The full 2021 ACRL Legislative Agenda can be found on the ACRL website and excerpts pertaining to the ACRL Core Commitment to EDI are included below:
Background
The Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education Act (Aim Higher Act) seeks to create a commission to develop voluntary guidelines for postsecondary electronic instruction materials and related technologies. Coursework materials are increasingly delivered in digital forms with e-books, PDF articles, and interactive web content delivered from the learning management systems, databases, and the open web. Whereas traditional tangible print items present obstacles to students with disabilities, digital content offers opportunities to expand accessibility for these students.
Impact on Academic Libraries
The development of federal guidelines will directly benefit academic libraries and their users because libraries create and provide access to expansive online materials that are considered "postsecondary electronic instruction materials." The campus library is a central point of access for students in higher education, and academic libraries also provide direct instruction to students and create many instructional materials in digital formats. Therefore, these guidelines will help ensure that library instruction materials and resources are also accessible to all. This not only increases the accessibility of instructional materials for users with disabilities, but it also benefits all users by allowing them to access the information they need in the ways they need to, and that works best for them. Finally, while there are existing standards that this act will collate into an annotated list, these new guidelines will help to situate accessibility best practices into the context of higher education instruction, which academic libraries play an integral part, and libraries could use them to increase and ensure the accessibility of our instruction services and resources. The ACRL University Accessibility Interest Group is available to provide additional input and support for this work.
ACRL’s position
ACRL has not stated a public position on this legislation.
Background
There are two prominent areas of need/advocacy associated with the push for broader federal funding for higher education. One of these areas of need has emerged as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on university budgets. Another relates to matters of equity, specifically in relation to the affordability of accessing higher education and the student debt crisis, and has also been amplified by the pandemic.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has noted that over 44 million Americans are directly impacted by student loan debt. Further, minority communities, and women of color in particular, are disproportionately represented within these figures... Under such circumstances, any positive movement on student debt reform or debt forgiveness will also further the cause of social equity in education.
ACRL’s position
As noted by ALA, equity, diversity, and inclusion are fundamental values of the association and its members. Therefore, equitable access to higher education must be seen as foundational to the work and advocacy of ACRL and its members. So that ACRL members might gain a clearer understanding of these issues and their impact on libraries, the Government Relations Committee recommends ACRL leadership develop a formal policy statement on these matters.
About the Diversity Alliance
To support EDI, ACRL is home to the ACRL Diversity Alliance. The Diversity Alliance’s goal is to increase the hiring pipeline of qualified and talented individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. Since its conception in 2017, the ACRL Diversity Alliance has provided a network for member institutions that commit to at least a two-year diversity residency position at their libraries. There are currently almost 40 institutional members of the 2021 Diversity Alliance.
ACRL Diversity Alliance Committee
The ACRL Board of Directors approved the ACRL Diversity Alliance Committee at their ACRL Board Virtual Meeting (make-up for Annual) on August 1, 2022 and charged the committee to, "The Diversity Alliance Committee oversees the ACRL Diversity Alliance program and works closely with ACRL staff to regularly evaluate program goals and materials; cultivates community and development among residency coordinators; fosters engagement and support for residents in conjunction with the ACRL Residency Interest Group (RIG). Oversees and ensures accountability to Diversity Residents and for host institutions, their leaders, and their residency coordinators. Provides a reservoir of expertise and a knowledge base for diversity residents and institutions on relevant issues. Leverages a resident-centered frame in its work."
ACRL Diversity Alliance Task Force (completed)
The ACRL Board of Directors approved the creation of the original task force at its June 27, 2016 meeting. After the original task force completed its work, the ACRL Board of Directors approved, on April 8, 2020, a new Diversity Alliance Task Force, charge, tasks, composition and timeline. The new task force will seek to expand member benefits and consider how to include institutions that are committed to diverse hiring practices, but may not have the resources to create a residency. In summer 2022, the ACRL Board reviewed and approved the task force's recommendations, including a new program model, program goals, letter of commitment, as well as a new division-level committee to oversee the program.
Beth McNeil's President’s Program will be held on June 29, 2024 at the 2024 ALA Annual Conference. “Workplace Belonging Matters: Key Insights for Library Professionals” featured professor Terrell Strayhorn, one of the foremost authorities on sense of belonging in living, learning, and workspaces emphasizing the significance of building community, strengthening relationships, and fostering a strong sense of belonging in the workplace for ALA 2024 attendees. He explored how libraries can create an inclusive environment where all employees feel valued, respected, and connected, drawing insights from his newest book, Workplace Belonging. By sharing practical strategies and insights, Dr. Strayhorn inspired library professionals to cultivate a sense of community and promote collaboration within and outside their organizations.
June 24, 2023 in Chicago, IL, the ACRL President's Program was hosted by ACRL President Erin Ellis, and was titled, "Cultivating, Applying, and Assessing the DEIA Lens: Building on the diversity count." Presenters included Steven Adams, Life Sciences Librarian, Northwestern University, Kawanna M. Bright, Assistant Professor of Library Science, East Carolina University; dela Dos, senior director, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, ARL.
The 2022 ACRL President's Program, "Connect. Collaborate. Cooperate. Commit," was hosted by ACRL President Julie Garrison and featured moderators Lynn Silipigni Connaway, Director of Library Trends and User Research, OCLC; Earl Givens, Jr., Dean of Learning Resources, Special Assistant to the President for Leadership Development, Catawba College / Corriher-Linn-Black Library; and speakers Jessica Dai, Resident Librarian, West Virginia University; Laura A. Johnson, Director of Library Services, Livingstone College; Tim Renick; Michael Walker
Director, TRIO Student Support Services, Prince George's Community College. The program was held on June 25, 2022 in Washington, DC.
Hosted by ACRL President Jon E. Cawthorne, the 2021 ACRL President's Program, "Making Change: Organizing for Action While Caring for Each Other," took place from 2:15 – 3:15 pm CST on Thursday, June 24, 2021 live during the conference. The program will feature Mariame Kaba, Founder and Director of Project NIA, and Dean Spade, Associate Professor at the Seattle University School of Law, with moderation by Emily Drabinski, Interim Chief Librarian at The Graduate Center, CUNY.
The 2020 ACRL President's Program, "Shifting the Center: Transforming Academic Libraries through Generous Accountability, " (YouTube recording) was hosted by ACRL President Karen Munro and featured keynote speaker McKensie Mack, anti-oppression consultant, researcher, facilitator, founder of #BoundaryWork, and former executive director at Art+Feminism, the session will explore how doing this work—holding ourselves, each other, and our institutions meaningfully accountable for inequity—can be an opportunity for generosity, humor, and care. The program was held Wednesday, June 10, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. Central and was offered free of charge as part of ACRL Together Wherever Virtual Event.
In 2019, ACRL President Lauren Pressley's President's Program Planning Committee focused their work on the topic of EDI, and created an online EDI discussion series blog which is now available on ACRL LibGuides. To continue the discussion, the ACRL President’s Program at the upcoming 2019 ALA Annual Conference in Washington, DC, entitled Equity, Diversity, Inclusion... and Leadership: Where Do We Go From Here?, was held on Saturday, June 22, 2019.
ACRL is working to create more welcoming and inclusive environments within its membership groups and member engagement. Since the approval of the Core Commitment, the objectives for all four goal areas, Value of Academic Libraries, Student Learning, Research and Scholarly Environment, and New Roles and Changing Landscapes, have been updated to include EDI. In spring 2019, the ACRL Diversity Committee was renamed the ACRL Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and a new charge was approved by the ACRL Board of Directors. With this new charge, the ACRL EDI Committee is poised to best support, oversee and coordinate forthcoming EDI initiatives. At the virtual 2021 ALA Annual Conference, the EDI Committee presented the on-demand session, "How We Are Marching: EDI Efforts Across ACRL."
Appointments: Division-level
In 2019, a Board Working Group worked with the ACRL Appointments Committee to review and make the appointments process more inclusive. Appointments marketing was updated to include more welcoming language on the ACRL volunteer form, webpage, and social media. Members who volunteered for a committee or section appointment had the option to answer several demographics questions. ACRL compiled this data, and ACRL President-elect Karen Munro shared a summary report on the 2018-2019 division-level committee appointments process. During the January 13, 2021 "Getting Involved in ACRL" online presentation, ACRL President Jon Cawthorne shared a summary of the 2019-2020 appointments cycle. In December 2021, ACRL President Julie Garrison published a summary report on the 2020-2021 division-level committee appointments process. ACRL will continue to include these optional demographics questions, so it can better understand and work to make the appointments process more inclusive.
Appointments: Editorial Boards
Prior to when the Core Commitment to EDI was adopted in November 2018, the ACRL Publications Coordinating Committee, in 2017, completed a demographics survey and published a report on the diversity of ACRL publications, editorial board demographics. Their findings and recommendations can be read in C&RL News.
Committee Reports
In the 2020-2021 division-level report, division-level committees were asked to self-report EDI activities and accomplishments that took place for the past two program years (July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021; and July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022). Those responses have been compiled and are included in the "ACRL Membership Group Activities" box in the "Get Involved" tab.
Joint Board of Directors/Budget & Finance Committee EDI Working Group
In Fall 2020, the ACRL Board created an ACRL Joint Board of Directors/Budget and Finance Working Group to review with a financial lens how ACRL is supporting its Core Commitment, and what gaps might need to be addressed. The group's charge is to, "Further explore and study existing equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) work across ACRL through a financial lens, and consider how to prioritize and fund social justice or antiracist work that will be beneficial to workforce development, training and professional development." The working group's final report is publicly available as documents #B, #B.1, #B.2, #B.3, #B.4, #B.5, #D in the 2022 ACRL Joint Board & Budget and Finance Committee Meeting packet.
Leadership Training
In September 2020, ACRL President Jon Cawthorne invited McKensie Mack, Founder and Managing Director of the McKensie Mack Group (MMG) and the Creator of #BoundaryWork, to lead a three-part Leadership Council series. ACRL leaders attended the three-part series, and participated in reflective pre-work to work towards the following goals. The ACRL Board reviewed feedback and ideas from the brainstorming sessions at its November 16, 2020 Fall Board Virtual Meeting.
Short-term Priorities
The ACRL Board of Directors met in June 2021 to identify short-term priorities for ACRL for the next one to two years. The need for priority setting was brought about by significant changes in higher education, academic libraries, and ALA that necessitated identifying and drafting short-term priorities. In July 2021, a Board Working Group took the outcomes from the priority setting discussions, and updated the annual report/work plan template, which now includes a section on short-term priorities (i.e., Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; Communication and engagement; and Membership). Committee leaders were asked to include their short-term goals as part of the their 2021-2022 work plans.
ACRL/ALA/ARL/ASALH/SAA and the 1890 Land-Grant Institutions and Tuskegee University Library Deans/Directors Association, Inc.
ACRL, ALA, the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Society of American Archivists (SAA), the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), and the 1890 Land-Grant Institutions and Tuskegee University Library Deans/Directors Association, Inc., sponsored a virtual screening of the short film Hidden in Full View, the story of the lynching of Matthew Williams in Salisbury, Maryland, in 1931. The virtual screening took place on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. After the screening of Hidden in Full View, Charles L. Chavis, Jr., talked about the process of researching and writing The Silent Shore: The Lynching of Matthew Williams and the Politics of Racism in the Free State (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2022) with an emphasis on the institutional and descriptive challenges of archival research on communities who have experienced racial harm.
National Associations of Librarians of Color (NALCo)
In January 2022, ACRL became an institutional member of the American Indian Library Association (AILA); Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA); Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA); Chinese American Library Association (CALA); REFORMA The National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking.
Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) Library Alliance
ACRL was a platinum sponsor of the Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) Library Alliance's 9th Membership Meeting, held June 1-2, 2021. The ACRL Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee submitted a shortened version of its 2021 ALA Annual Conference on-demand program, "How We Are Marching: EDI Efforts Across ACRL."
Joint Council of Librarians of Color (JCLC)
As an in-kind contribution to the Joint Council of Librarians of Color (JCLC) Fundraising & Sponsorship Committee for their November 2021 silent auction in support of the upcoming 2022 JCLC Conference, ACRL donated one face-to-face and one virtual registration for the ACRL 2023 Conference.
REFORMA
ACRL exhibited at REFORMA’s virtual National Conference VII, from Nov 4 - 7, 2021.
Since the Core Commitment was approved in November 2018, ACRL has awarded the following scholarships and memberships for underrepresented individuals and those working at underrepresented institutions.
ALA/ACRL Memberships for BIPOC Library Workers
During the unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic; heightened social awareness of systemic racism, oppression, and institutional violence; and economic recession– all of which disproportionately impact communities of color– the ACRL Board of Directors approved, in November 2020, up to $10,800 to fund up to 50 memberships for ALA and ACRL (a value of over $200 per membership) for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) library workers, especially those who serve underrepresented populations. In January 2021, the ACRL Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee issued a call for applicants and awardees were notified in spring 2021. While 50 awardees were selected, only 47 claimed their award.
In November 2021, the ACRL Board of Directors approved up to $15,000 to fund 72 ALA and ACRL memberships for BIPOC library workers serving underrepresented groups. Funding will support memberships for year two of the first cohort (47 members), as well as funding for cohort two (25 members). The call for applicants for cohort two was open March 3, 2022 to May 1, 2022.
On January 29, 2024, the ACRL Board of Directors approved the ACRL Budget & Finance Committee’s recommendation to use up to $9,440 to fund 40 ALA/ACRL memberships for academic and research library workers identifying as BIPOC and/or Disabled and serving underrepresented groups. The call for applicants is expected to launch in the coming weeks and will be posted on ACRL Insider.
Spectrum Scholars & ACRL Mentor Program
In 2021-2022, 2023-2024, and 2024-2025, ACRL sponsored two Spectrum Scholars.
ACRL is supporting Lyndon Batiste as its 2020-21 Spectrum Scholar. Lyndon Batiste is a student at the University of Alabama School of Library and Information Studies.
Also in 2020-21, the ACRL Dr. E.J. Josey Spectrum Scholar Mentor Program paired 33 ALA Spectrum Scholars interested in careers in academic librarianship with ACRL members to mentor them this year and has now paired a total of 246 Scholars with mentors since its establishment in 2003. This year the committee overseeing the program introduced several new tools to help the pairs develop their relationships, provide suggested discussion topics, and prompt them to communicate with each other regularly.
ACRL provided $7,000 to support one ALA Spectrum Scholar in FY19. At Midwinter 2019, the Board approved $7,000 disbursement to fund an additional Spectrum Scholar from the ACRL Friends Advancement Fund in FY20. ACRL's FY21 and FY22 budgets included funding for two Spectrum Scholars.
What does it mean to integrate equity and social justice into our practice and assessment in libraries? Efforts to increase equity, diversity, and inclusion have been a priority of most institutions of higher education for many years now. The ACRL Value of Academic Libraries Committee is charged with helping academic librarians participate in work that is aligned with the mission, vision, and values of their institutions, as well as providing evidence of the value they provide to these institutions.
Through this spotlight series on practices of equity and social justice, the committee is asking librarians from various corners of librarianship to discuss what it means to integrate equity and social justice into our practice and assessment, as well as how they are working toward that goal.
ACRL is committed to supporting its Core Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, and is looking to make all aspects of the organization more inclusive. In the coming year, ACRL will continue to offer EDI professional development opportunities for its leaders and members, work to update the 2012 Diversity Standards: Cultural Competency for Academic Libraries, and seek input and guidance from its Board of Directors, members and other key stakeholders to further review its processes and initiatives.
ACRL welcomes input from its members throughout the year. If you have feedback or would like to submit a request to the ACRL Board of Directors, please complete a Board action form. Upcoming Board meeting dates and Board document deadlines will be posted on ALA Connect. Comments and suggestions pertaining to EDI can also be sent to ACRL Program Manager for Strategic Initiatives Allison Payne at apayne@ala.org.
ACRL is active in advocating for policy and legislation through the ALA Washington Office, as well as through coalition work with groups such as the Open Access Working Group and the Library Copyright Alliance (LCA) for joint work with ALA and the Association of Research Libraries (ARL). To increase ACRL's visibility and influence in the arena of higher education policy development, legislation, and best practices, ACRL speaks out on important issues, including equity, diversity and inclusion. When ACRL signs a letter of support or responds to a request for comments, it is shared through ACRL communication channels, including ACRL Insider, and added to the ACRL Speaks Out webpage.
ALA, ACRL issue joint statement in support of HBCUs after recent bomb threats (February 9, 2022)
The American Library Association (ALA) and the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) stand in solidarity with the faculty, students, and staff of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and in particular we voice our support for those whose campuses have recently received bomb threats.
We especially wish to reach out to our library colleagues whose libraries anchor these important institutions. We lament that racism and the threat of violence continue to plague our colleagues in higher education, places where students, faculty, and workers come to learn and expand understanding. HBCUs do not exist as places apart. They belong to all of higher education and hatred directed towards these schools affects us all. ALA and its more than 49,000 members, including ACRL and its nearly 9,000 members, are united in their support of our fellow library workers at HBCUs
ACRL Supports APALA and ALA in Condemning Anti-Asian Hate Crimes (March 24, 2021)
ACRL stands in solidarity with the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) and amplifies ALA’s Executive Board in recognizing and condemning anti-Asian hate crimes. ACRL affirms APALA’s March 3, 2021, statement which noted that the association “recognizes and strongly condemns the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes that have permeated our country over the past year. Our Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities have been deeply impacted by attacks that have caused physical and psychological harm.”
ACRL Statement on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and the Print Collecting Imperative (October 7, 2020)
In keeping with its Core Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, ACRL recommends that North American research libraries continue to collect and preserve valuable print materials, even as the global COVID-19 crisis and associated financial circumstances may compel them to shift, at least temporarily, to digital formats where available. The association strongly urges libraries to take a deliberate, measured approach to any shift, temporary or permanent, toward an e-centric collection development model, an approach that balances fiscal exigencies with equity, diversity, and inclusion imperatives; takes full stock of the important research and teaching that cannot be accommodated through electronic resource collecting alone; and ensures support for continued print collecting in relevant areas.
ACRL Supports ALA, BCALA, and APALA Statements Condemning Violence and Racism (June 2, 2020)
ACRL supports ALA in condemning violence and racism towards Black people and all people of color. ACRL endorses the statement of the Black Caucus of The American Library Association (BCALA), which condemns the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers within the Minneapolis Police Department. ACRL endorses the statement of the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association, which denounces the rise in racism and xenophobia against Asians and Asian/Pacific Americans in wake of the outbreak of COVID-19.
ACRL Board Statement Against Racism, Harassment, and Discrimination in the Profession (January 31, 2019)
The Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) Board of Directors is aware that ALA Midwinter attendees have reported experiencing violations of the conference Code of Conduct, including incidents of racism, harassment, and discrimination. We laud the strength of those who have shared their experiences to draw needed attention to violations, and we abhor the systemic inequities in our profession that have normalized discriminatory, harassing, and racist behaviors.
In March 2021, ACRL joined 36 other organizations to sign the ACLS Statement Condemning Anti-Asian Violence. ACRL stands with ACLS and is, "angry and saddened by the recent increase in incidents of violence against Asians and people of Asian descent in the United States and around the world.” ACLS and the signatories “encourage educators, lawmakers, and community leaders to take this moment to listen closely to Asian and Asian-American voices and work with them in stemming this latest scourge of prejudice and violence.”
We commit to learning more and we encourage you to learn more about ways to support anti-violence and anti-hate efforts against the Asian community:
Joint Statement on Legislative Efforts to Restrict Education about Racism in American History (June 16, 2021)
ACRL joined a number of organizations in co-signing an American Association of University Professors, the American Historical Association, the Association of American Colleges & Universities, and PEN America joint statement stating their “firm opposition” to legislation, introduced in at least 20 states, that would restrict the discussion of “divisive concepts” in public education institutions. The statement notes that "Americans of all ages deserve nothing less than a free and open exchange about history and the forces that shape our world today, an exchange that should take place inside the classroom as well as in the public realm generally. To ban the tools that enable those discussions is to deprive us all of the tools necessary for citizenship in the twenty-first century."
Statement Urging Retraction of Executive Order Prohibiting the Inclusion of “Divisive Concepts” in Employee Training Sessions (October 13, 2020)
ACRL joined 28 organizations in signing onto a statement from the American Historical Association urging the retraction of the recent executive order prohibiting the inclusion of “divisive concepts” in employee training sessions carried out within the federal government and by federal contractors and grantees. The statement argues that "Rather than banning the 'divisive concepts' from any educational venue-whether a classroom, a museum, a national park, or a workplace training session-historians seek to draw public attention to these concepts so that they can be discussed, debated, and ultimately challenged. Unity is not achieved by pushing division under the rug; it can be won even in the face of difference."
The ACRL Board of Directors endorsed on August 26, 2019 an American Historical Association (AHA) statement on Domestic Terrorism, Bigotry, and History. The statement notes that “As the largest organization of professional historians in the world, the AHA condemns the recent deployment of histories invented in the interest of bigotry, violence, and division. Many critics of white nationalism have admirably insisted that ‘this is not who we are.’ If the statements of white nationalists do not reflect who Americans are or want to be, they do compose an undeniable part of our collective past. Those aspects of the nation’s heritage should be exposed and overcome, rather than ignored or celebrated. Knowledge of history can help Americans achieve that goal.”
“ACRL wholly supports the American Historical Association’s moving and timely statement on nativism, violence, and history,” said ACRL President Karen Munro of Simon Fraser University. “The sentiments addressed in the statement reflect our Core Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion’s focus on acknowledging and addressing historical racial inequities.”
ACRL is one of more than 30 organizations to sign on in support of the AHA statement.
On May 27, 2020, the ACRL Board of Directors signed the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association's (APALA) statement, which "condemns (the) rise in xenophobia and racism due to the novel coronavirus outbreak." ACRL stands with APALA, and "rejects coronavirus-related hostility, anti-Asian stereotypes, and racism against Asians, Asian/Pacific Americans, or anyone perceived to be Asian." As of June 2020, over 800 individuals and organizations have signed the pledge.
On June 1, 2020, the ACRL Board of Directors endorsed the statement of the Black Caucus of The American Library Association (BCALA), which condemns the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers within the Minneapolis Police Department. The "Statement Condemning Increased Violence and Racism Towards Black Americans and People of Color" includes that "Since George Floyd is the latest in a long line of recent and historical violence against Black people in the United States, the BCALA takes this moment to encourage BCALA members to take proactive and preventative measures in the fight against racism."
In March 2022, ACRL signed a letter of support for an IMLS grant proposal that seeks to study Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) paraprofessionals in academic libraries.
In August 2019, the ACRL Board of Directors approved for ACRL to join eight organizations, institutions, and Native American communities to endorse the Protocols for Native American Archival Materials. The Protocols were developed by nineteen Native American and non-Native American archivists, librarians, museum curators, historians, and anthropologists and published in 2007 with support from the American Library Association Office for Diversity, the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, the Wenner-Gren Foundation, The Bay and Paul Foundations, the Northern Arizona University Institute for Native Americans, and Mary and P. David Seaman.
On July 24, 2018, ACRL joined the National Federation of the Blind and eight other library, research and advocacy organizations to express strong support of the passage of the Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act, S. 2559. The letter states that, “The implementing legislation embodies a consensus approach which balances the need to expand access to information for people who are blind around the world with the responsibility to properly safeguard the interests of rights holders.”
The ACRL Diversity Alliance program unites academic libraries committed to increasing the hiring pipeline of qualified and talented individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. By working together and thinking more broadly, ACRL Diversity Alliance institutions will help diversify and thereby enrich the profession.
The commitment of each library leader to build an inclusive organizational culture supportive of Black, Indigenous and People of color (BIPOC) will expand opportunities available to individuals from professionally underrepresented groups to gain the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary to thrive in an academic context. Library leaders participating in the ACRL Diversity Alliance are committed to opening doors, sharing their networks, and preparing residents and pre-career graduate students for success in scholarship, professional service, and leadership. Residents, pre-career graduate students, and library leaders will each have access to a network so that they can share ideas, resources, and best practices.
In order to unite academic libraries committed to racial equity in their hiring and retention practices of qualified and talented individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, the ACRL Diversity Alliance fosters the:
The Diversity Alliance Committee oversees the ACRL Diversity Alliance program and works closely with ACRL staff to regularly evaluate program goals and materials; cultivates community and development among residency coordinators; fosters engagement and support for residents in conjunction with the ACRL Residency Interest Group (RIG). Oversees and ensures accountability to Diversity Residents and for host institutions, their leaders, and their residency coordinators. Provides a reservoir of expertise and a knowledge base for diversity residents and institutions on relevant issues. Leverages a resident-centered frame in its work.
The ACRL Board of Directors approved the ACRL Diversity Alliance Committee at their ACRL Board Virtual Meeting (make-up for Annual) on August 1, 2022.
Coming soon!
Oversees the ACRL Diversity Alliance and completes the following tasks:
Dr. José A. Aguiñaga(Co-Chair, July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2022)
Ms. Annie Belanger(Co-Chair, July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2022)
Tracy Bicknell-Holmes(Member, July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2022)
Deborah Yun Caldwell(Member, July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2022)
Lori Cawthorne(Member, July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2022)
Mr. Jesus I. Espinoza(Member, July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2022)
Alexandra Howard(Member, July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022)
Mr. Derrick Jefferson(Member, July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022)
Ms. Leslie L. Morgan(Member, July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022)
Ms. Denisse Solis(Member, July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2022)
Anastasia Chiu(ACRL Residency Interest Group Representative, July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2022)
April D. Cunningham(Board Liaison, July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022)
Dr. Robert Jay Malone(Staff Liaison, September 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022)
Ms. Allison Payne(Staff Liaison, July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2022)
Joining the ACRL Diversity Alliance requires just two things:
Download the letter of commitment here.
Email signed letter of commitment to ACRL Program Manager for Strategic Initiatives Allison Payne at apayne@ala.org. Invoice will be sent upon receipt of the signed letter.
ACRL Diversity Alliance badges will be delivered to participating institutions upon receipt of the letter of commitment and payment of annual fees.
The fee for the Diversity Alliance is set by the ACRL Board of Directors as recommended by the Diversity Alliance Task Force. The fee is $500, paid annually by calendar year, and partially offsets administrative costs for the program. The ACRL Diversity Alliance Program requires annual commitments by individual institutions and consortial pricing is not available.
To oversee and coordinate ACRL’s Core Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, as described in the strategic plan. Work with the Board and other units to initiate, advise and mobilize support for appropriate action related to issues of diversity, equity and inclusion in academic librarianship—including recruitment, advancement and retention of underrepresented groups to academic and research librarianship and the promotion of library and information services for diverse library users.
Ms. Silvia Si Wing Vong(Chair, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024)
Cristalan 'Tal' Ness(Vice-Chair, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024)
Je Salvador(Past-Chair, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024)
Amanda Choie(Member, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025)
Ms. Aditi Gupta(Member, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025)
Cinthya Ippoliti(Member, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025)
Ken Irwin(Member, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025)
Ms. Marcela Yael Isuster(Member, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025)
Ms. Kayla Jean Kuni(Member, July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024)
Katelyn Quirin Manwiller(Member, July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024)
Cristalan 'Tal' Ness(Member, July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024)
Jordan Michael Nielsen(Member, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025)
Mrs. Adriana Poo(Member, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025)
Mrs. Sandra E. Riggs(Member, July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024)
Dr. Kevin M. Ross(Member, July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024)
Ms. Tami Sandberg(Member, July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024)
Ms. Silvia Si Wing Vong(Member, July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024)
Anna Yang(Member, July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024)
Erin L. Ellis(Board Liaison, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024)
Ms. Allison Payne(Staff Liaison, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024)
