Identity, Familia, and Belonging
The lack of diversity in the library and information science (LIS) field is a historical problem in a profession that strives to provide access to information for all. Many librarians of Latin American heritage are and have been members and/or leaders of the American Library Association (ALA). Some...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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East Carolina University
2025-01-01
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| Series: | The International Journal of Information, Diversity, & Inclusion |
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| Online Access: | https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/ijidi/article/view/43736 |
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| author | Alicia Long Denice Adkins |
| author_facet | Alicia Long Denice Adkins |
| author_sort | Alicia Long |
| collection | DOAJ |
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The lack of diversity in the library and information science (LIS) field is a historical problem in a profession that strives to provide access to information for all. Many librarians of Latin American heritage are and have been members and/or leaders of the American Library Association (ALA). Some of them are also members of and participate actively in the National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking (REFORMA). The purpose of this case study is to understand how librarians of Latin American heritage (LLAH) experience a sense of belonging within librarianship based on their dual identity as REFORMA and ALA members. Through semi-structured interviews with eight LLAH who are members of and leaders in ALA and REFORMA and analysis of documents from both associations, we identified three main themes. LLAH are a diverse group, intersectional, from different ethnicities and cultural backgrounds with the common goal of serving Latino communities. In REFORMA, these diverse professionals balance their individual and social identities to find a community and a support system that helps the sense of belonging in a predominantly White profession. Findings from this study have implications for professional associations and their leaders who wish to make librarians who are Latine feel that they belong in LIS.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-427192cd19ac4ba0bc76f8417a4c1543 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2574-3430 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | East Carolina University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The International Journal of Information, Diversity, & Inclusion |
| spelling | doaj-art-427192cd19ac4ba0bc76f8417a4c15432025-01-24T06:00:02ZengEast Carolina UniversityThe International Journal of Information, Diversity, & Inclusion2574-34302025-01-0183/410.33137/ijidi.v8i3/4.43736Identity, Familia, and BelongingAlicia Long0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9931-375XDenice Adkins1University of MissouriUniversity of Missouri The lack of diversity in the library and information science (LIS) field is a historical problem in a profession that strives to provide access to information for all. Many librarians of Latin American heritage are and have been members and/or leaders of the American Library Association (ALA). Some of them are also members of and participate actively in the National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking (REFORMA). The purpose of this case study is to understand how librarians of Latin American heritage (LLAH) experience a sense of belonging within librarianship based on their dual identity as REFORMA and ALA members. Through semi-structured interviews with eight LLAH who are members of and leaders in ALA and REFORMA and analysis of documents from both associations, we identified three main themes. LLAH are a diverse group, intersectional, from different ethnicities and cultural backgrounds with the common goal of serving Latino communities. In REFORMA, these diverse professionals balance their individual and social identities to find a community and a support system that helps the sense of belonging in a predominantly White profession. Findings from this study have implications for professional associations and their leaders who wish to make librarians who are Latine feel that they belong in LIS. https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/ijidi/article/view/43736American Library AssociationbelongingdiversityLatineREFORMA |
| spellingShingle | Alicia Long Denice Adkins Identity, Familia, and Belonging The International Journal of Information, Diversity, & Inclusion American Library Association belonging diversity Latine REFORMA |
| title | Identity, Familia, and Belonging |
| title_full | Identity, Familia, and Belonging |
| title_fullStr | Identity, Familia, and Belonging |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identity, Familia, and Belonging |
| title_short | Identity, Familia, and Belonging |
| title_sort | identity familia and belonging |
| topic | American Library Association belonging diversity Latine REFORMA |
| url | https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/ijidi/article/view/43736 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alicialong identityfamiliaandbelonging AT deniceadkins identityfamiliaandbelonging |