Cultural Proficiencies for Racial Equity: A Framework Released by ALA, ARL

August 27, 2022

The American Library Association (ALA) and the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) this week announced the approval by their boards of directors of the Joint ALA/ARL Building Cultural Proficiencies for Racial Equity Framework Task Force’s final draft of the Cultural Proficiencies for Racial Equity: A Framework.

The document is structured around four frames:

1. Addressing and Interrogating How White Supremacy, White Privilege and Racism Show Up in Libraries
2. Accountability, Assessment, and Implementation
3. Building Cross-Sector Cultural Proficiency: Influencing and Affecting Change in Other Professional, Civic, Political Spheres
4. Antiracist Leadership

and was developed “as a guide for developing personal, organizational, institutional, and systems-level knowledge and understanding of the nature of racism and its many manifestations.”

Table of Contents

Introduction

Frames

Frame 1: Addressing and Interrogating How White Supremacy, White Privilege and Racism Show Up in Libraries
1.1 Understanding Historical Inequities
1.2 Methodologies for Self-Assessment
1.3 Libraries and Racial Equity
1.4 The Language of Racial Equity and White Supremacy
1.5 The Competency Continuum

Frame 2: Accountability, Assessment, and Implementation
2.1 Antiracist Objectives & Strategies for Libraries
2.2 Hiring, Retention & Advancement
2.3 Strategic Planning
2.4 Policies, Procedures, and Norms
2.5 Sharing the Work: BIPOC Communities & Allies
2.6 Accountability in Racial Equity Work
2.7 Solidarity & Librarianship
2.8 Power relationships within the field

Frame 3: Building Cross-Sector Cultural Proficiency- Influencing and Affecting Change in Other Professional, Civic, Political Spheres.
3.1 Civic
3.2 Information
3.3 Corporations

Frame 4: Antiracist Leadership
4.1 The Interconnectedness of Libraries and the Larger Institutions of ALA/ARL
4.2 Role of the Member- Advancing Member Impact

Addendum 1: Background of the Framework

Addendum 2: Glossary & Resources for Further Reading

News Release: ALA/ARL approve Cultural Proficiencies for Racial Equity: A Framework

CHICAGO; WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Joint ALA/ARL Building Cultural Proficiencies for Racial Equity Framework Task Force’s final draft of the Cultural Proficiencies for Racial Equity: A Framework was approved by the boards of directors of the four partner organizations, the American Library Association (ALA), Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), Association of Research Libraries (ARL), and Public Library Association (PLA), during summer 2022.

The Cultural Proficiencies for Racial Equity Framework is a tool both theoretical and practical in its orientation, as a guide for developing personal, organizational, institutional, and systems-level knowledge and understanding of the nature of racism and its many manifestations. Racism results in differential, inequitable, and devastating impacts on Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) in the library and information science (LIS) sector, the communities libraries serve, and beyond. The framework is not intended to be liberatory practice in itself—an instrument or agent that will abolish racial inequity or a step-by-step guide—but, rather, to provide the grounding needed to effect change in thinking, behavior, and practice that will lead to better outcomes for racialized and minoritized populations. Therefore, while the framework offers examples of implementation, these are not meant to represent an exhaustive list. Although the LIS sector cannot, on its own, solve the problem of racism in society, it can acknowledge the role it has played in contributing to and sustaining systems of inequity and oppression of communities of color, and own the responsibility for countering its effects, both historically and today. And while we acknowledge the global impacts of racism, for the purposes of this framework, we will specifically address the impacts of racism in both the United States and Canada.

Development of the framework began in September 2019, when the ALA Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services (ODLOS); ACRL; ARL; and PLA announced the formation of the Building Cultural Proficiencies for Racial Equity Framework Task Force. The task force was charged to create a framework for cultural proficiencies in racial equity to be used in public and academic libraries through: scanning the environment, including review of relevant documents (such as ACRL Diversity Standards: Cultural Competency for Academic Libraries) to identify literature and similar statements and frameworks related to racial equity; drafting the framework; seeking comment from stakeholders and the library community on the draft; and revising as needed. After its formation, the task force developed a logic model, with facilitation by Katherine Skinner, executive director, Educopia Institute. In May 2021, Christina Fuller-Gregory, assistant director of libraries, South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, joined the task force to build on the logic model to lead the framework development and launch a call for comments.

ALA President, 2021–2022, Patricia (Patty) Wong, City Librarian, Santa Clara City Library, stated, “The ALA Executive Board enthusiastically supports this framework and is appreciative of this resource that will further equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts in libraries. With diversity as an ALA Core Value, this framework is an exemplary tool for ALA to endorse and for the library community to use in support of racial equity policies and practices.”

“This framework represents the collective work of so many thoughtful leaders within our communities,” said ARL President K. Matthew Dames, the Edward H. Arnold Dean, Hesburgh Libraries and University of Notre Dame Press, University of Notre Dame. “At ARL, we are grateful to all who contributed to these efforts and we are excited to incorporate this framework into the various aspects of the work of the Association. Additionally, I am confident that our member institutions will critically explore opportunities to integrate content from this framework into their operations, programs, and services.”

View and download Cultural Proficiencies for Racial Equity: A Framework. Accompanying professional development is anticipated, and details will be shared when available.

(Via American Library Association)

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