ABSTRACT
Despite the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) values espoused by LIS associations, the profession’s “diversity problem” continues to exist. Libraries serve a diverse community of users, but the LIS profession continues to be dominated by whiteness. Professional development (PD) related to DEI is therefore important to help professionals build cultural competency and awareness to better serve these communities and to better engage with DEI topics. Using three narratives, this chapter introduces and problematizes two approaches to PD related to DEI topics observed by the author at various conferences: The “diversity as add-on” (i.e., one-off sessions on DEI tacked on to general conference programs) and the “diversity as ‘separate, but equal’” model (i.e., dedicated conferences on DEI). An alternative approach is proposed which incorporates a “Diversity by Design” (DbD) mindset rooted in critical analysis.
