iLead with an EDI Lens

ABSTRACT

This conceptual paper introduces the joint San José State University, School of Information and Simmons University, School of Library and Information Science, IMLS grant planning project: iLead: Preparing Tomorrow’s Library Leaders. During 2023–24, the grant team project members are designing an asynchronous online program where library employees may earn micro-credentials. The online program focuses on developing leadership skills with an equity, diversity, and inclusion lens. Contributions from national, state, and local library partners during the development of this curriculum will assist in applying for a future IMLS implementation grant. For more information on iLead: https://www.ileadedi.org/.

KEYWORDS:

• Equity
• diversity
• inclusion
• libraries
• library leadership

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/01616846.2024.2383447.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

José Aguiñaga

José Aguiñaga has engaged with higher education in various roles; he has been a practicing academic librarian with over 28 years of experience. He received his MLS from the University of Arizona, MPA from California State University, Long Beach, and EdD from Northern Arizona University. Dr. Aguiñaga began his higher education career in university libraries and then transitioned to community college librarianship for the last 17 years. During his career, he served in various capacities: reference desk, instruction, online chat, electronic resources, assessment, usability, and grant writing. He was also involved in multiple shared governance roles: community college faculty senator and president. Since 2022, he has expanded his library and information science educator role by becoming an Assistant Professor at the School of Information at San José State University, where he teaches reference & information services and issues in academic libraries. His research agenda focuses on community college libraries.

Rebecca Stallworth

Rebecca Stallworth is an Assistant Professor in the School of Library and Information Science at Simmons University. Her research examines diversity issues in academic libraries and the information-seeking behaviors of first-generation graduate students. In 2020, she received a Laura Bush 21st Century Library Program grant from the Institute of Library and Museum Services (IMLS) for her African American Undergraduates’ Use of Academic Libraries project. She teaches courses on reference, user instruction, academic libraries, and intersectionality and information professions. She is a member of the American Library Association (ALA), the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE), and the Black Caucus American Library Association (BCALA). She has worked in academic and health sciences libraries.