Scholary Review #1

"There are several important reasons to bring more focus to ongoing research about diversity, inclusion, and underrepresentation in LIS, as well as to encourage more work in this area. Consistent exposure to this area of research stands as a key means through which students in LIS programs can become ready to provide inclusive information services to the wide range of patrons they will encounter in their professional lives. The diversity of the population in the United States is rapidly increasing and will continue to do so. If students are not aware of the range of issues of diversity, inclusion, and underrepresentation related to information and the ways to provide services that meet the needs and expectations of diverse populations, these students will not be able to adequately serve their communities or their profession. Simply put, research in this area needs to be an integral part of every MLS curriculum." (Jaeger, Bertot, & Franklin.)

The above quote from the authors of the article, "Diversity, inclusion, and underrepresented populations in LIS research" illustrates why I chose to take this class. I want to be made more aware of the information needs of a wide range of multicultural issues. While I don't always like the term "melting pot", America is becoming that, and it's important as a librarian-in-training that I know more about the various cultures so that I can better understand their needs. Also, I am just plain curious and I have always been interested in other cultures. While earning my B.A. in History, I took many Asian studies classes, because it was something I hadn't studied or knew much about before college. I had heard enough about western Europe and England during my intro history classes, and I wanted to know more about China and Japan. I also two classes about Russian history, mostly because I wanted to understand the "Soviet Scare" better and understand how Russia became the U.S.S.R.

I found it very interesting in the above article how the authors wanted to see if diversity played a part in female African-Americans LIS desertions. I would actually hope that diversity would play a role, and the topics chosen would be ones akin to how to make library services more interesting to perhaps urban youths or people not otherwise visiting libraries. But perhaps that is a stereotype in itself. Still, even if that seems stereotypical, I would hope that a female African-American getting her Ph.D. in Library Science would want to develop programs that would appeal their ethnicity, since according to the article, African-Americans are underrepresented in the LIS universe.

I also found the paragraph in the article about LIS programs lacking diversity very interesting. Maybe this would seem too forward, but in our multicultural country, there is a greater need than ever to have a "diversity LIS class" requirement. So far I have found this class very satisfying. Not only have I learned and explored other ideologies, but this class has allowed me to express my own ideology. As a professional librarian one day not only will I want to serve the needs of many, but having explored my own culture will just make me more sure-footed about seeking information about others. I'm not sure about the exact requirements for a "diversity course" to be required, but if the idea was shaped better, it would be great and fun requirement for LIS students.

In closing, I believe that the article made some very good points about the low number of varying ethnicity in the library profession, especially in regards to the number of LIS faculty members. If more variety of peoples were members of LIS faculty, I am sure my above suggestion about a diversity class, and/or a bigger focus on diversity in LIS programs would happen.

References:

Jaeger, P. T., Bertot, J. C., & Franklin, R. E. (2010). Diversity, inclusion, and underrepresented populations in LIS research. Library Quarterly, 80, 175-181.