Racial Climate and Inclusiveness in Academic Libraries: Perceptions of Welcomeness among Black College Students

Stewart, Brenton; Ju, Boryung; Kendrick, Kaetrena

doi:10.1086/700661

Cited by 14 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Among the 105 survey participants, nearly 70 percent ( n =70) felt their academic libraries were welcoming as a physical place or destination on campus (mean = 3.79, SD = 0.87). This result is similar to previous studies on underrepresented populations of color which found that academic libraries were generally welcoming to students (Stewart et al , 2019; Whitmire, 2004). However, this may also be a result of nothing overtly negative occurring in the space, as compared to other spatial interactions on campus, and therefore construed as neutral positive – similar to Evans and Broido’s (2002) findings.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Other studies have also found that “unfair treatment [of LGBT students was] more likely to come from other students (65%), rather than from faculty (14%)” (Tetreault et al , 2013). These comments reflect Sue et al ’s (2007) microaggression category of microinsults, which include “behavioral/verbal remarks or comments that convey rudeness, insensitivity and demean a person’s racial heritage or identity.” A quantitative study on Black students’ perceptions of racial climate in American academic libraries also revealed a significant relationship between other students’ actions and behaviors and subsequent perceptions of welcomeness (Stewart et al , 2019). Therefore, the current study’s findings magnify the role that the general student body plays as important actors in constructing the overall social climate on college campuses and as barriers to information seeking for LGBT students.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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“Hard to find”: information barriers among LGBT college students

Stewart

Kendrick

2019

AJIM

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine collegiate information barriers and perceptions of academic library climate among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) college students in the USA. Design/methodology/approach The primary method used for this investigation was an online crowdsourced survey of 105 participants who attended two and four-year colleges in the USA. The questionnaire used free word association where participants shared information barriers encountered on colleges’ campuses. Responses from each questionnaire were interpreted using open coding. Findings Information barriers around sexuality continue to be a challenge for non- heteronormative information seekers on college campuses. One-third of students had distinctive information needs around their sexuality and experienced information barriers from both the institution and social stigma. The study reveals an evolution in sexual minority students’ sense of self, which has moved beyond the binary identity of gay/lesbian explored in previous studies; students identified bisexuality as a salient information need, and described a campus environment that often erased bisexuality. The academic library was described as an information barrier due to inadequate sexual minority-related resources. Practical implications Academic librarians as well as higher education professionals, such as recruitment/admissions officers, student counseling services, student health and student affairs, can leverage the results of this study to help establish a more inclusive and welcoming information environment that empowers students for academic and personal success. Originality/value A limited number of studies in information science have focused on sexual minority college students’ information behaviors and even fewer on information barriers. This study presents new insight and deeper understanding of the collegiate information environment of LGBT identified students in the USA.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Hard to find”: information barriers among LGBT college students

Stewart

Kendrick

2019

AJIM

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“…(2004, 2006) found that African American graduate students experienced lower levels of library anxiety than White graduate students. Stewart et al . (2019) surveyed Black undergraduates at PWI's across the country and found mixed results.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Library response to Black Liberation Collective: a review of student calls for change and implications for anti-racist initiatives in academic libraries

Guth

Broadnax

2021

RSR

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PurposeIn September 2015 protests erupted at the University of Missouri following a series of racist incidents on campus and culminating in the resignation of the university president in November 2015. In solidarity with the protests student activists at universities across the United States and Canada organized into the Black Liberation Collective and held the first #StudentBlackoutOut day of protests on university campuses on November 15 followed by the publication of lists of demands to over 80 colleges in 28 states, the District of Columbia and Canada in the hopes of creating more-equitable and inclusive institutions. These demands shared similarity in requests for equity as those put forth during the Black Campus Movement of the late 1960s which led to the establishment of Black studies and cultural centers at colleges and universities. Academic libraries in particular were included with several demands to better serve the Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) community.Design/methodology/approachWhile librarianship has largely been a historically White profession, libraries have undertaken many diversity and inclusion initiatives over the years. This article will examine seven case studies concerning college and university libraries addressing demands collated by the Black Liberation Collective in 2015. Six years out from the publication of the lists, we will evaluate statements issued by the libraries and posted on their websites, the promises that have been made to address inequities and the ensuing actions the libraries have taken to create a welcoming, inclusive community.FindingsThe authors examine seven institutions where demands from student activists speak directly to the library. We examine the library's response to make changes and subsequent actions.Originality/valueThe authors take a journalist approach to their research and examination of library responses.

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“…40 In fact, in their quantitative study that indicated African American students generally perceive academic libraries as welcoming places, Stewart, Ju, and Davis, also found that, "libraries are not neutral sites of reading but cultural spaces that reflect the mores of their users. " 41 Part of the study reported here is to consider whether the notions of ambient sociality and scholarly gravitas in libraries hold across student identities or are they a luxury of privileged students?…”

Section: Ambient Sociality and Scholarly Gravitasmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…5 This has been recently reinforced in a quantitative study that found that black college students attending non-historically black colleges and universities in the U.S. felt welcomed in academic libraries. 6 Indeed, there are many examples of academic libraries working to promote inclusivity to underrepresented student populations in their spaces. These include: creating prayer rooms for the convenience of students of all faiths, 7 offering free feminine hygiene products in library restrooms, 8 providing lactation rooms 9 and gender-neutral and family restrooms, 10 ensuring gender diversity in library maker-spaces, 11 and eliminating overdue fines and hosting food pantries, 12 not to mention a great variety of programming and recruitment efforts aimed at promoting racial diversity in the workforce and positive, constructive communication across differences.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of spatial attributes on users’ information behaviour in academic libraries: a case study

Ilako¹

2020

Proceedings of ISIC: The Information Behaviour Conference Pretoria, South Africa, 28th September to 1st October, 2020

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Introduction. Information practices manifest differently among diverse library users, because space influences the different activities that library users engage in. Lefebvre’s spatial triad theory was used to illustrate how library spaces influence spatial activities and hence affect information behaviour of users. Method. A qualitative, ethnographic study method was applied. Participant observations and interviews with library users were conducted from May to December 2019 within Makerere University. Analysis. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results. Information behaviour appears as the central activity within the library spaces, within those spaces and academic and non-academic behaviour manifest as a result of user engagement within the different spaces. It was thus revealed that different attributes support users’ activities such as reading, discussionsamong users and therefore sharping their space preference. Conclusion. Space is both a physical and social object that has a direct influence on its inhabitants’ spatial activities, perceptions and experiences. The concept that space is socially constructed is empirically supported through the social relations that users create as they engage in different activities. The availability of space attributes such as enclosed spaces, noise levels, lighting and space attachment influence the spatial activities and experience of users in a positive or negative way.

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Racial Climate and Inclusiveness in Academic Libraries: Perceptions of Welcomeness among Black College Students

Cited by 14 publications

References 37 publications

“Hard to find”: information barriers among LGBT college students

“Hard to find”: information barriers among LGBT college students

Library response to Black Liberation Collective: a review of student calls for change and implications for anti-racist initiatives in academic libraries

The influence of spatial attributes on users’ information behaviour in academic libraries: a case study

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