Braving our blind spots : using a virtual book discussion group to continue conversations on implicit bias in libraries

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Harris, R., Jones, S., Bartley, K., DeSantis, M., Jason, D., & Rios, D. (2022). Braving our blind spots : using a virtual book discussion group to continue conversations on implicit bias in libraries. Implementing Excellence In Diversity, Equity And Inclusion : A Handbook For Academic Libraries.
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Increasing the racial and ethnic diversity of the workforce in libraries throughout the United States has been a strategic priority for years, yet statistically the homogeneous nature of library staffs remains the same. Statistics from the American Library Association’s 2017 ALA Demographic Study indicates that librarianship is a largely white female profession. This homogeneity is likely a contributing factor to the implicit bias that individuals from marginalized groups feel in librarianship. An implicit bias occurs when we have attitudes toward people, or associate stereotypes with them, without our conscious knowledge. Growing research indicates that implicit biases impact the actions we take and decisions we make in our personal and professional lives. Every day, each of us makes decisions in our professional lives that impact who gets hired, supported, promoted, and admitted, and which programs get funded. Implicit bias impacts the decisions we make in our personal lives too, from the neighborhoods in which we choose to live and the schools we attend to the friends with whom we associate. Implicit bias is pervasive in all we do. Its effects are long-lasting and detrimental to the recipient. The key to mitigating implicit bias is awareness and action. Uncovering implicit biases is the first step toward appreciating and leveraging the unique differences that each of us brings to every setting or situation.

In this chapter, the group organizers discuss the use of a virtual book club to provide a forum for dialogue on implicit bias. The authors share insights gained from planning and facilitating a virtual discussion group for over fifty medical librarians using Mahzarin Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald’s book, Blindspot: The Hidden Biases of Good People as a platform for safe and thought-provoking dialogue. The discussion groups provided participants the opportunity to share their unique perspectives in a small-group setting. This intimate environment, though virtual, provided increased participant awareness of ingrained narratives learned throughout their lifetimes and afforded opportunities for each to learn more effective ways to communicate across their differences. This team of facilitators worked together to create a bank of questions for each chapter, PowerPoints to share with each group, a shared document for post-session notes, and a communication plan to keep everyone on track. This helped build community and prepare the facilitators, especially for those who lacked experience or confidence in leading online discussion groups. Authors will share insights addressing the benefits and challenges of organizing a virtual book discussion group.

Details
Title

Braving our blind spots : using a virtual book discussion group to continue conversations on implicit bias in libraries

Author(s)

Harris, Ryan
Jones, Shannon
Bartley, Kelsa
DeSantis, Melissa
Jason, Don
Rios, Dede

UNC Charlotte Affiliate Type

Faculty

Extent

1 online resource

Date Published

2022

Material Type

Book chapters

Genre

e-books

Resource Type

text

Abstract

Increasing the racial and ethnic diversity of the workforce in libraries throughout the United States has been a strategic priority for years, yet statistically the homogeneous nature of library staffs remains the same. Statistics from the American Library Association’s 2017 ALA Demographic Study indicates that librarianship is a largely white female profession. This homogeneity is likely a contributing factor to the implicit bias that individuals from marginalized groups feel in librarianship. An implicit bias occurs when we have attitudes toward people, or associate stereotypes with them, without our conscious knowledge. Growing research indicates that implicit biases impact the actions we take and decisions we make in our personal and professional lives. Every day, each of us makes decisions in our professional lives that impact who gets hired, supported, promoted, and admitted, and which programs get funded. Implicit bias impacts the decisions we make in our personal lives too, from the neighborhoods in which we choose to live and the schools we attend to the friends with whom we associate. Implicit bias is pervasive in all we do. Its effects are long-lasting and detrimental to the recipient. The key to mitigating implicit bias is awareness and action. Uncovering implicit biases is the first step toward appreciating and leveraging the unique differences that each of us brings to every setting or situation. In this chapter, the group organizers discuss the use of a virtual book club to provide a forum for dialogue on implicit bias. The authors share insights gained from planning and facilitating a virtual discussion group for over fifty medical librarians using Mahzarin Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald’s book, Blindspot: The Hidden Biases of Good People as a platform for safe and thought-provoking dialogue. The discussion groups provided participants the opportunity to share their unique perspectives in a small-group setting. This intimate environment, though virtual, provided increased participant awareness of ingrained narratives learned throughout their lifetimes and afforded opportunities for each to learn more effective ways to communicate across their differences. This team of facilitators worked together to create a bank of questions for each chapter, PowerPoints to share with each group, a shared document for post-session notes, and a communication plan to keep everyone on track. This helped build community and prepare the facilitators, especially for those who lacked experience or confidence in leading online discussion groups. Authors will share insights addressing the benefits and challenges of organizing a virtual book discussion group.

Subjects--Topics

Academic libraries
Diversity in higher education
Book clubs (Discussion groups)

Is Part Of

Implementing excellence in diversity, equity and inclusion : a handbook for academic libraries

Volume

Chp. 11

Beginning Page Number

231

Ending Page Number

255

Language

English

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/work:900

Rights

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