ALIA Disability and ALIA Multicultural collaborated to plan and deliver a pre-conference workshop at ALIA National 2024 on Monday 6 May 2024.
The workshop was booked out and thirty six enthusiastic attendees joined facilitators Amy Rake (ALIA Disability) and Joey Chung (ALIA Multicultural) for “From Stereotype to Empathy to Inclusion: How Diversity can bring Strength to the LIS Workforce”.
This workshop aimed to explore diversity in the LIS workforce and the importance of learning from the Multicultural and Disability sectors when it comes to strengthening inclusion in the LIS profession. The aim was to spark conversation with attendees interested in delving deeply into this area. The topics explored in the workshop included:
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- What are hidden disabilities or unconscious bias?
- What are the daily challenges/stereotypes that library staff from diverse backgrounds face?
- Or those of us with hidden disabilities?
- Or perhaps both?
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The workshop began with an icebreaker “Put yourself in my shoes”, which is a role play game where attendees are divided into groups of two and respond to one of the two scenarios.
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- Scenario one: an attendee orders a drink from a café where English is not a proficient language (or any common languages between the attendees).
- Scenario two: an attendee wears specially made spectacles, which simulates the experience of limited vision, and then searches for an item according to the other attendee’s instructions.
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This was followed by a short video “Let’s Talk Diversity”. In the video four library professionals speak about the benefits of diverse backgrounds for the library information sector workforce.
After the video, attendees were invited to discuss “What are the positive/ negative aspects of having a diverse background in the library sector?”.
At the beginning of the workshop some attendees thought there shouldn’t be any negative experience regarding diversity. However, it was realized there are experiences after the discussion. Some of these negative aspects are related to cultural issues and the impacts on workplaces, political influences, people being judgmental, and the pressure experienced by culturally diverse staff within this context.
Facilitators Amy and Joey discussed key ideas about disability, hidden disability, stereotypes, and unconscious bias. This led to the group discussion of “What are the common stereotypes (visible or invisible) towards disability and multiculturalism?” and “What is the impact of these stereotypes on the workforce?”
The workshop concluded with a panel discussion about “How can the library sector improve diversity, equity, and inclusion?” The majority agreed that the hiring process needs to be reviewed, and it should be a top-down approach to be inclusive in the workplace.
Attendees were thoroughly engaged and shared many meaningful discussions in the workshop.
Through this workshop, ALIA Disability and ALIA Multicultural demonstrate how to start uncomfortable and courageous conversations, enhance safe discussion and exploration of ideas, and develop deeper understanding around, diversity, hidden disabilities, and unconscious bias in the workforce.
