Preparing for a More Equitable Future: An Examination Of EDI-Focused Courses In LIS Curricula

Abstract

In recent years many professions, including the field of librarianship, have seen a much-needed increase in their focus on issues related to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). For example, in January 2022, ACRL’s Board of Directors added a strategic goal area dedicated to EDI. Because Library and Information Science (LIS) education lays a foundation for and greatly impacts librarians’ professional identity and practice, it is important to understand how they approach EDI issues in their courses. The current exploratory study aims to survey how LIS programs incorporate EDI into their curricula by examining the language used in online course descriptions. Course descriptions are often the first contact prospective and new students have with a school’s curriculum and also serve to broadcast what a program values and what its curricular priorities are. This study examines the EDI foci across ALA-accredited library science programs by analyzing their online, publicly available course descriptions’ use of EDI terminology. Emergent themes uncovered are discussed.