INTERVIEW
Diversity and inclusion: it’s up to all of us
Rob Green talks to CILIP conference keynote speaker Hong-Anh Nguyen about what can be done to improve diversity and inclusion in the profession to refl ect wider society – and why ultimately this is everyone’s responsibility.
IT is no secret that diversity and inclusion in the library and informa- tion profession needs to improve. The current workforce is not represent- ative – whether that is race, gender identity, sexuality, socio-economic background or ability – there is a disconnect between society and the profession. It makes it harder to meet the needs of users and there is an un- equivocal need to address the issues.
Imbalance
Even within the profession there is imbal- ance – as a whole the profession is dominated by women, yet at the leadership level, the situation is reversed. While the issues are well-recognised, any solutions require eff ort and commitment – not just from leaders and decision-makers, but from all who work in the profession.
This year’s CILIP Conference, which takes place in Manchester on 3 and 4 July, features a strand on diversity which will look at both the profession and the services it delivers. Hong-Anh Nguyen, Informa- tion Service Manager at The King’s Fund, is chairing a panel session and will also be giving a keynote speech looking at what can be done to improve diversity and why it is everyone’s responsibility.
Negative impact
The UK, like much of the Western-centric world, has been historically framed by a white, middle-class male perspective. That historical framing is still very much in evidence today in power structures that are predominantly centred around that model. In the workplace, this is replicated in lead-
16 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL
Rob Green (@CILIP_Reporter,
rob.green@
cilip.org.uk) is Editor-in-Chief, Information Professional.
Take advantage of the Early Bird Offer before 17 May to book your place at CILIP 2019 in Manchester on 3 and 4 July at
www.cilipconference.org.uk
ership roles and access to opportunity. Too often people from minority backgrounds fi nd their chances to make a mark are limited by structural barriers, unconscious bias, and actions and decisions that, while not necessarily malicious, carry a signifi cant negative impact.
The immediate impact is felt by individuals – those who are passed over for promotion, those who struggle to fi nd a way into their chosen profession – but the wider impact is felt across society. Professions need to refl ect society if they are to provide services that meet their users’ needs. Perspectives and ex- periences from within minority communities add value to an organisation which in turn helps to improve society as a whole.
April-May 2019
Conference Interview
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25/04/2019 15:21
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