Cecilia TellisMaha KumaranVictoria Ho2024-07-242024-07-242024-07-17Tellis,C., Kumaran, M., Ho, V. (2017). Challenging Eurocentrism: Applying critical theory and anti-oppression frameworks to EDI work in libraries. ARL IDEAL conferencehttps://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/handle/1807/139252https://hdl.handle.net/10388/15867Conference Presentation slidesIn this IDEAL session, preliminary findings from a Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) funded project on applying critical theory and anti-oppression frameworks to EDI-related work in libraries (committees, hiring practices, internship opportunities, etc.) were shared. During and post COVID-19, and catapulted by the racial violences in North America, a racial awakening in libraries occurred and many libraries began to prioritize anti-oppression and anti-racism efforts. Solidarity statements were shared, resource lists were created, read, and discussed, and new EDI related programs and positions created to lead EDI work on campuses. However, existing EDI epistemologies, values and practices are still rooted in and prefer to launch from Eurocentric paradigms. In this session, researchers shared details of their work (methodology, data collection and analysis, and preliminary findings). Researchers used appreciative inquiry in their data analysis and provided some examples of data in the presentation. Early findings show that libraries must resist the urge to establish EDI efforts through Eurocentric paradigms.enCC0 1.0 Universaleurocentrism; anti-oppression; academic libraries; equity; diversity; inclusion; appreciative inquiry; critical race theory; BIPOC; marginalized librariansConference Presentation