SIG - DEI/IDEA Policy Discussion
DEI work falls under the larger umbrella of library services
DEI to IDEA
Diversity Equality and Inclusion to Inclusion Diversity Equality and Access
Unfair to put all of these ideas under one umbrella, there is more nuance to it
Goals of a policy:
What is the point of a policy?
A policy exists to clarify.
Clarify what and to whom?
Two silos - people and things - these are the two “parts” of policy
Example: How to get a library card
This has to do with both the person involved and the library card, so it moves from one silo to the other.
What do you want to see patrons do or not do in your space?
Example: Whether someone can borrow a hotspot - this is determined by Library of Things policy. Enforcement can also be covered in the written policy.
Policy enables us to enforce the rules
Policies should be inclusive in terms of language and tone
Use positive language that encourages the behavior you want to see, as opposed to negative language that simply imposes barriers.
Within Policies:
Recognize Injustice
Increase Accessibility
Hiring & Retention
Environment & Collection
Policy allows us to back ourselves up, gives us ground to stand on
Enforcement - we are taking issue with the behavior, not the human being
Auto-renew, for example, helps library patrons feel more safe when borrowing a book. Together with fine-free trends, we are removing these barriers that keep people from borrowing and engaging with the library.
Policy gets things out of the way to streamline the patron experience.
Can be helpful to go back and read policies to make sure you are very familiar with what is contained.
When creating policy, try to be as streamlined as possible - you don’t need two policies that discuss the same behavior.
Be sure to see policies through - for example: If the policy says “No eating,” make sure people follow it. Patrons may point to failure to enforce one policy and claim that the rest of the policies don’t matter as well.
Book challenge policy - Every library needs to have this policy in place
Reminder - Practice must follow policy, otherwise it is not effective!
Example: How do we deal with a vision or hearing impaired individual at the front desk? Is there a policy that describes what resources we should have on hand to offer them?
Do staff know how to access policies? Do they understand policies?
Library Hours can show inclusion as well - are we accommodating to people with unique schedules? Are we actually available to every member of our community?
Having a diverse collection of materials supports access as well - ebooks, audiobooks, Large Print, etc. - making sure that people can access the materials they want/need to
Social Media policy - Make library services known. Digital Literacy can be a barrier as well.
Acknowledging people is part of access - acknowledging people’s lack of skills, specific background or situation, etc.
Programming and use of library spaces - how do our policies affect access and use?
Patrons feel better when they know there are rules, and that they are expected to follow the rules. There is a human need for structure or guidelines, and a lack of this structure will lead to problems.
When policies are challenged or questioned, this can be a good opportunity to take a look at the policy and see if it needs to be updated.
Constant evaluation of policies is important - should be an ongoing process!
When writing policy, worry more about the access to library materials, not library materials themselves
There will always be someone out there who has a problem with a particular policy, this is unavoidable. Make sure there is an avenue for patrons to complain/voice their concerns.
A library does not choose its community - we must find the best way to serve our community while reflecting our mission and values