Promoting Racial and Ethnic Diversity among Canadian Academic Librarians

Mary Kandiuk is Visual Arts, Design and Theatre Librarian/Senior Librarian, Research and Collections in Scott Library at York University; e-mail: [email protected]. © 2014 Mary Kandiuk, AttributionNonCommercial (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) CC BY-NC This study examines racial and ethnic diversity among Canadian academic librarians and discusses the findings of a nationwide survey. The survey posed questions related to equity plans and programs as well as recruitment practices for academic librarians from equity-seeking groups with a focus on Aboriginal and visible/racial minority librarians. It explored the needs and experiences of Aboriginal and visible/racial minority librarians employed in Canadian academic libraries by examining questions of organizational climate, mentoring, institutional support, advancement opportunities, and the roles of library associations. The findings reveal a need for more diversity awareness and training and leadership with respect to diversity on the part of academic libraries and the profession at large in Canada.