The following post is one in a regular series on issues of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility, compiled by a team of OCLC contributors.
Rebuilding trust in authoritative sources
Libraries have long been THE trusted source for authoritative information, whether one was trying to settle a bet or compose a doctoral dissertation. Our current era, though, has seen a disconcerting decline in people’s trust in so many institutions and disciplines, from science and the news media to government and organized religion. Helping to both cause and exacerbate the plunge in trust has been our ever-increasing reliance on technology that blurs the boundaries between verifiable truths and outright falsehoods. Because of the library’s traditional position as a reliable source, today’s libraries also have a vital role in the effort to re-establish and enhance the trust that has been dismantled. On 12 November 2024 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, OCLC’s WebJunction will present a free webinar “How do we rebuild trust in authoritative information sources?” Rachel Moran, Senior Research Scientist at the University of Washington (OCLC symbol: WAU) Center for an Informed Public; Jamie Collins, Director of Kentucky’s Marion County Public Library (OCLC symbol: KJ6); and Kristen Calvert, Programs and Events Administrator of Dallas Public Library (OCLC symbol: IGA) in Texas, will lead an hour-long discussion about the problem and suggested paths toward dealing with it.
For the past year, the Center for an Informed Public, “an interdisciplinary research initiative at the University of Washington dedicated to resisting strategic misinformation, promoting an informed society and strengthening democratic discourse” has been working with WebJunction on a multiyear project to create an information literacy program for libraries and their communities nationwide. The webinar registration site includes links to a related wealth of information from the Center for an Informed Public, which is itself well worth exploring. Contributed by Jay Weitz.
DLF Inclusive Metadata Toolkit
Earlier this month, the Digital Library Federation Cultural Assessment Working Group (CAWG), released the Inclusive Metadata Toolkit, a resource to support the work of reparative and inclusive description. The toolkit includes a guide and a resource directory. The guide contains contextual information to support learning, strategic approaches, and implementation. The guide is static, whereas the directory can grow to accommodate more tools and resources.
I was delighted to see this toolkit, and love how it is structured. I particularly appreciate the set of tools that can be used to interrogate and take action on sets of existing metadata. An area where there is an opportunity to add resources is in developing practices for working with local communities. This will be the focus of a conversation later this month at the ATALM Conference (aka the 2024 International Conference of Indigenous Archives, Libraries, and Museums) with my colleague Mercy Procaccini; Selena Ortega-Chiolero (Museum Specialist, Chickaloon Village Traditional Council); and Melissa Stoner (Native American Studies Librarian, University of California, Berkeley – Ethnic Studies Library, OCLC Symbol: CUY). In a discussion session titled “Opening Doors, Inviting Critique: Indigenizing Metadata Practices,” they will highlight creating meaningful, respectful and reciprocal relationships with communities. Mercy and I have learned so much from discussions with Melissa and Selena and look forward to outcomes and additional knowledge sharing. Contributed by Merrilee Proffitt.
Conference centers “Community of Care”
As attendees gather for the Library Assessment Conference (LAC) next week in Portland, OR, they’re invited to help co-create a “Community of Care” that will support the individual and collective needs of the conference. This initiative transcends traditional conference setups by providing spaces and resources that prioritize diverse needs—including sensory comfort, accessibility, and mental well-being. Such measures foster a welcoming, inclusive environment where all participants can fully engage and feel valued. Building on similar intentions at recent ALA conferences, “a community of care is an extension of self-care to remove the burden of navigating problematic systems and harmful cultural norms from the individual. ARL staff and the LAC planning group recognize that facilitating a community of care is one solution for harm reduction and that there is more work to be done to truly disrupt, change, and eliminate systems that perpetuate inequity.” This is a significant step toward ensuring that all participants, regardless of their needs, can experience the conference fully and comfortably.
The term Community of Care really resonated with me as I read through the conference materials. It feels like it is coming from a place of inclusion instead of mere compliance, which they reference. I am excited to attend the conference and see what this commitment to inclusivity and wellness looks like on the ground. Contributed by Brooke Doyle.
Merrilee Proffitt is Senior Manager for the OCLC RLP. She provides community development skills and expert support to institutions within the OCLC Research Library Partnership.
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