Moving Beyond Whiteness in North American Academic Libraries

Abstract

Over the last half a century, North American universities have become diverse institutions with multicultural students and programmes in Women's studies, Black/African studies, regional studies and gay/lesbian/transgender studies. Academic libraries have responded to these changes and today most have policies or programmes in place to support diversity goals. Despite this good start, a closer examination of common collection, service and cataloguing practices reveals that libraries still have a significant way to go before becoming fully inclusive institutions. Using African studies as a case example this article considers current academic library practices which are problematic, or lacking, in terms of moving beyond whiteness. Top down commitment and an allocation of financial and staff resources are needed for academic libraries to shed lingering vestiges of eurocentricism and move forward towards meaningful cultural inclusivity.

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