Library Trends

Abstract:

Equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) efforts in libraries are examined in an international context and against a background of diversity management and research. The purpose of this article is threefold: (1) increase understanding about human differences, beyond the race, gender, and sexual orientation categories commonly found in the U.S. library literature in order to reimagine EDIA in libraries; (2) highlight three major library trends that empower all human beings to thrive: social well-being, cultural learning / cultural competencies, and social justice; and (3) draw attention to some of the problems with EDIA in libraries, while offering recommendations and sharing the author’s positionality and worldviews. This paper increases understanding of the dimensions of diversity, the trends that are developing inside libraries and their affiliated information environments, and how EDIA efforts can be improved by thinking holistically of one interconnected planet with one humanity.