Integrating Cultural Humility into Public Services Librarianship

Abstract

To provide the best possible service, we must start with ourselves first. Cultural humility is complex and involves critically engaging with our biases. Integrating cultural humility into anything starts with the individual first and their absolute willingness to be vulnerable, to conduct an audit of themselves and be beyond willing to address their biases (implicit and explicit), and to be dedicated as this is a lifelong process. This is not easy, simple, prescriptive or comfortable. At the heart of everything, it is helping the patron with as little lens (stereotypes, biases, and more) as possible.

Keywords:

• Cultural humility
• bias
• diversity
• equity
• inclusion
• culture