Do Black Employees’ Rights Matter? The Lived Experience of BAME Staff in UK Academic Libraries

What are the options for library and information studies education reform in addressing racial inequity in the library profession in the UK?

“…In terms of staffing, Society of College and National and University Libraries (SCONUL) commissioned research into the experiences of BAME staff in academic libraries, which gave voice to the research participants and highlighted their negative experiences including lack of diversity, with increasing whiteness going up the hierarchy, a feeling of being monitored, racism and microaggressions within the workplace which were not adequately dealt with, a glass ceiling in terms of promotion, few opportunities for training for (mostly BAME) paraprofessional staff, tokenistic equality and diversity initiatives, lack of support from trades unions and lack of encouragement to progress. The participants recommended a strategic approach to equality and diversity, creation of opportunities to progress, addressing lack of diversity in the workforce and introduction of a BAME mentorship programme (Ishaq and Hussain, 2019). There have been efforts to accelerate this process through regional and national BAME networks: Diversity in Libraries of the North (DILON, 2022) and the CILIP BAME Network (CILIP, 2022) linking the professional association with the wider profession and practice.…”

“…There have been efforts to accelerate this process through regional and national BAME networks: Diversity in Libraries of the North (DILON, 2022) and the CILIP BAME Network (CILIP, 2022) linking the professional association with the wider profession and practice. Research into academic libraries staff (Ishaq and Hussain, 2019), research into black female professors (Rollock, 2019), and diversity in academia (Ahmed, 2012;Akel, 2019;EHR, 2021) all in the UK strongly point to the need to identify and address institutional racism in UK higher education, both in faculty and professional services staff.…”

Addressing Classification System Bias in Higher Education Libraries in England

“…37 A recent survey of BAME librarians by the Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL) revealed feelings that discussing equality and diversity in libraries is lip service, and that no meaningful action will come from it. 38 Mai points out that there will always be a tension between the conceptual criticism of classification and the need to have concrete solutions. 39…”

“…Specific instances of this happening did not emerge from the interviews, but, as raised in the literature review, it is important that white librarians do not shy away from taking on this work, so as to avoid putting increased pressure on their BAME colleagues. 46 Participant 4 expressed an interest in paying Indigenous community members to consult on their classification scheme, but that was a wish for the future that had not yet become a possibility.…”