By Meshia Anderson, interlibrary loan specialist, UC Libraries
Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Belonging are often terms associated with those in marginalized communities. Finding a space that allows one to be authentic, feel a sense of belonging and add value to the lives of others is what I set out to do. Just over a year ago, I sought to find unique professional development opportunities that would allow me to serve as a key contributor to Equity and Inclusion practices, enhance current skills and adapt new ones and contribute to the support of marginalized communities.
As a result of my pursuit, I was selected to serve as member of the ARL/IDEAL Conference Planning Task Force and to additionally serve as Production Committee Co-chair. The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) offered a great opportunity for me to connect with those exhibiting my same passion for Equity and Inclusion practices. The task force consisted of 10 members outside of ARL, primarily deans and department heads, in addition to multiple ARL directors, which presented a significantly inclusive experience for me. More than 70 volunteers across the United States and Canadian Universities, along with additional ARL staff, contributed to the conference success serving well over 500 attendees.
My role as a task force member allowed me the opportunity to provide suggestions and/or feedback for the conference working groups as conference plans progressed. The Production Team in particular was responsible for overall onsite conference support. As co-chair, I oversaw all aspects of onsite conference check-in and information support locations throughout the conference, providing training for multiple shifts in those work spaces and providing support for my co-chair who oversaw most other volunteer spaces. Initial training lead by ARL leadership for task force members and volunteers helped to establish conference standards and safety expectations.
A sense of belonging, learning about others in marginalized spaces and providing support for those wanting to share their research knowledge and personal experiences in an inclusive setting set the tone for my quest with ARL. Multiple sessions were offered throughout the conference in support of accessibility, inclusivity and a sense of belonging and were presented by those representing a variety of backgrounds.
A memorable session titled, “Weaving Diverse Voices and Perspectives: Crafting Inclusive Pedagogies and Cultural Responsiveness,” continues to stand out for me as I considered equity and inclusion efforts put forth by myself and other UC Libraries colleagues. UC Libraries was an Ally Sponsor for the ARL/IDEAL conference. Additionally, key take-aways from the sessions included strategies for removing cultural barriers, encouraging diverse perspectives, creating diverse collections, avoidance of punitive challenges, cultural humility and the overall influence of cultural competency. The consistent emphasis on humility and equitable treatment of patrons and staff and its influence on their achievement served as an undertone for success.
Memorable moments include team huddles and a highlight of a specific conference participant’s experience for which I’ll paraphrase. A first-time conference attendee shared their experience as exciting, informative and very welcoming, as this was their first time attending a conference on their own away from home. I found this feedback very significant as the attendee was visually impaired and found the courage to travel out of the country for the first time away from family on their own. I would later have a conversation with the attendee and provide a thank you for attending the conference.
My role as a Task Force Member, Production Co-chair and Conference Participant allowed me to find my own space and contribute to the sense of belonging for others. Since we are an institution that values equity and inclusion, this opportunity allowed me to further develop skills in this area and bring it back to my job at UC.
