Leader responsibility for diversity, equity, inclusion & justice in academic libraries: An exploratory study

Abstract

This article explores how ambiguity is present in academic library leadership around the terms diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. It reports the results of an exploratory research study that surveyed library leaders about their responsibility for creating equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice within their own organizations and their perceived ability to do so. The authors distributed four identical surveys except for one key term to a national population and compared the results in order to see if leaders feel more responsible and/or capable depending on which of these four terms they are considering. The research highlights some noteworthy differences between the terms and advances the dialogue around diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice in libraries, higher education, and leadership.