Definitions
The LPC DEIA committee uses the definitions from the Coalition for Diversity and Inclusion in Scholarly Communications’ Joint Statement of Principles as a jumping-off point for community discussion about our own definitions of these terms. The resulting language is a mix of C4DISC’s and our own.
Accessibility
Accessibility is the practice of making information, activities, and/or environments sensible, meaningful, and usable for as many people as possible including those with various cognitive, emotional, motor, and learning abilities.
Anti-oppression
Actions to dismantle and prevent barriers and inequities experienced as a result of being part of historically disadvantaged groups. This includes, but is not limited to, groupings based on race, gender identification, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, language, national origin, age, and physical appearance.
Anti-racism
Anti-racism is the interruption of racism, including white supremacy. It requires acknowledging that structural inequities exist in libraries and publishing spaces and taking action to dismantle and prevent racial barriers and inequities. This can include allyship, hiring, creating resources, fostering community, and dialogue about racism. Anti-racism is part of the larger anti-oppression category.
Diversity
Refers to the composition of a group of people from any number of demographic backgrounds: identities (innate and selected); the collective strength of their experiences, beliefs, values, skills, and perspectives; and the historical and ongoing ways in which these groups have been affected by structures of power. The variability in a diverse group is apparent in the characteristics we see and hear, as well as through behaviors and expressions that we encounter and experience in our workplaces and organizations. Diverse organizations are not by default inclusive.
Equity
Equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances and needs different resources to be successful. The term “equity” refers to fairness and justice and is distinguished from equality: Whereas equality means providing the same to all, equity means recognizing that we do not all start from the same place and must acknowledge and make adjustments to imbalances. The process is ongoing, requiring us to identify and overcome intentional and unintentional barriers arising from bias or systemic structures.
Inclusion
The act of establishing philosophies, policies, practices, and procedures to ensure equitable access to opportunities and resources that support individuals in contributing to an organization’s success. Through encouraging awareness of power structures, creating opportunities for those who have historically been excluded, and attempting to decenter majority culture, inclusion creates the environment and infrastructure in which diversity within organizations can exist and thrive. Inclusive organizations are by definition committed to achieving a sense of belonging for everyone at all levels.
White supremacy
We use this term to describe the legal, social, commercial, political, and institutional systems that center whiteness and Euroamerican culture, holding these up as the standard, and rendering non-Euroamerican people and cultures as “other”, “abnormal” or “different” and often invisible. The operation of these systems creates a race-based caste society that excludes Black, Brown, Indigenous, and other people of color from equitable participation, and allows “privileges associated with ‘whiteness’ and disadvantages associated with ‘color’ to endure and adapt over time.”
Initiatives
The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Committee leads LPC’s efforts to create an inclusive community by embedding the work of anti-racism, anti-oppression, and accessibility across the organization. While the DEIA Committee assumes this leadership responsibility, DEIA is the responsibility of all members of the LPC.
Accessibility Resources and Videos
- Creating Accessible PDFs (LinkedIn Learning)
- Advanced Accessible PDFs (LinkedIn Learning)
- NVDA Keyboard Shortcuts
- JAWS Keyboard Shortcuts
General Resources
- APA. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Toolkit for Journal Editors.
- C4DISC. Guidelines on Inclusive Language and Images in Scholarly Communication.
- Anti-racist Scholarly Reviewing Practices: A Heuristic for Editors, Reviewers, and Authors
For updates, email LPC Board, lpcboard@educopia.org.