Radical re-imagination: centering a BIPOC library workforce in an asset-based autoethnography

Purpose Academic BIPOC librarians oftentime struggle to envision themselves and navigate in White-dominant spaces due deficit thinking. To better understand how DEIA efforts can bolster structural change academic libraries, the two authors opted lean on an asset-based exercise–imagining a positive work environment made possible through library staffed entirely by individuals. Design/methodology/approach Through collaborative autoethnography, interviewed one another centered their unstructured conversations around question: “What does composed of workforce look like?” Three emergent themes were agreed upon finalized authors. Findings The authors' imagined is able foster supportive community also function efficiently thanks its shared purpose grounded DEIA. Despite relying framework, found having reckon with trials tribulations currently faced librarians. Effectively envisioning “ideal” not without engaging librarianship's legacy racial injustices. Originality/value Recognizing that confronting systems oppression naturally invokes trauma, this paper encourages challenge thinking instead rely models candidly imagine anti-racist library. acknowledge voices experiences add tremendous value workplace. At heart belief reparations for past injustices should only fix wrongdoings, but contribute workplace cultures.