UB scholar secures grant to study workplace experiences of first-gen, BIPOC LIS professionals

In an effort to bridge the gap in workplace equity and representation, a Graduate School of Education researcher has secured a $493,910 grant from the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program.

The program funds projects that tackle essential challenges in the library and archives fields, aiming to enhance professional practices and improve library and archival services for the American public.

Africa Hands, assistant professor in the Department of Information Science, will study the unique challenges and cultural strengths of first-generation Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) professionals in the library and information science (LIS) field.

Collaborating with not-for-profit research and consulting service Ithaka S+R, Hands will lead the three-year project, “LIS First-Generation Professionals: Workplace Barriers and Cultural Assets,” which aims to uncover the often overlooked hurdles these professionals face and highlight the strategies they use to thrive in their careers.

“We know from research that the general workplace experiences of first-generation students can be a little challenging … There’s a hidden curriculum of the job and the workplace.” Hands explains. “They may meet barriers in terms of navigating that. Sometimes, they have less-cultivated career capital. They struggle to find their first position. Some of them didn’t have an opportunity to have internships that give them [professional] experience.

“So, we know these things about first-generation students as a whole,” she says. “But there has not been much concentrated research done on first-generation graduate students, or first-gen graduate students in library and information science.”

The project will employ a multi-method approach to address two key research questions: What are the workplace challenges of LIS first-generation professionals, and what strategies and cultural assets do these professionals employ to navigate and succeed in LIS workplaces?

“Public libraries serve diverse communities, but the makeup of librarians who work in libraries is around 80% white women,” Hands says. “There are initiatives to address this so that the workforce is more reflective of the communities they’re serving.

“I think it’s really important to focus on first-generation professionals — who encompass a lot of different marginalized identities,” she continues. “We need to know their experiences to hopefully retain them in the workplace so that we can have more inclusive workplaces that are more reflective of the community.”

Through focus groups and written narratives, the research will amplify this under-examined population and provide actionable insights for graduate programs, professional associations, managers and current LIS professionals.

“Dr. Hands’ project is significant because it addresses the unique challenges faced by BIPOC first-generation professionals in library and information science workplaces,” notes X. Christine Wang, professor and associate dean for interdisciplinary research. “By investigating their experiences and strategies for success, the findings will not only inform graduate programs and professional associations, but also drive cultural and environmental changes within LIS workplaces to better support these professionals.

“This project further demonstrates the GSE’s breadth and depth of expertise in promoting equity and inclusivity in education and LIS spaces.”

The findings from the research will be widely disseminated through the project’s website, Ithaka S+R’s website and various library worker organizations. An innovative open-access e-book will also share participants’ lived experiences.

The project builds on Hands’ already-robust research activities. She recently won the ALISE Research Grant Program Competition, which funded her project, “Positioning LIS Students for Career Success.”

“I’m really looking forward to extending my interests in career services and going into this next study on first-generation professionals,” Hands says. “I’ve been interested in career services for a number of years, so I’m excited to really be diving into it with these two projects.”