The library person: negotiating the aporia of universalism in library diversity work

Purpose This article presents a qualitative case study of a Danish library's work with a diversity program facilitated by the Danish regional libraries. The diversity program provides a context for investigating how library employees negotiate diversity work in relation to universalist professional ideals. Design/methodology/approach The case study is based on participant observations at 10 meetings, one shadowing session and five group interviews. Analytically, the article employs Derrida's deconstructive concept of aporia and incorporates feminist and queer theoretical discussions. Findings The analysis shows how practices in diversity work are embedded in changing configurations of universalist and particularistic considerations in librarianship. It is concluded that universalism constitutes an aporetic formation that is generative of library staff's sense of responsibility when engaging in diversity work. The article proposes The Library Person as an allegorical figure that embodies this responsibility. Originality/value The article provides an original insight into a Danish library's work with diversity. The article proposes a post-structural, queer understanding of the library employee that differs from previous descriptions by characterizing the library employee as a figure of flexibility and ambiguity, rather than stability.