Diversity and Inclusion Skills

This certificate program focuses specifically on skills and concepts related to diversity and inclusion in libraries. The program includes a course introducing a critical race theory approach to understanding structural racism in libraries, as well as courses that focus on strategies to create a more inclusive workplace and library. Some diversity-related programming has been critiqued as focusing too much on demographic representation without addressing underlying structural issues, which can lead to recruiting members of underrepresented minority groups into what may feel like a hostile environment. The courses in this program instead focus on fostering an inclusive environment, in which library employees and patrons can feel safe being their authentic selves, by building cultural competence and addressing structural barriers to inclusion.