Actions matter: Mental models of allies & accomplices in librarianship

Diversity as it relates to discrimination, race and ethnicity is experiencing challenges in today’s society, and the terms “ally” and “accomplice” are used as part of the broader conversation about how society supports social justice for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). People are comfortable being an ally, supporting marginalized people without getting too involved or experiencing any trouble with their own life or profession, but less comfortable being an accomplice, fighting against injustices even though their life and profession may be at stake. To better understand how librarians and information professionals perceive allies and accomplices, this research study explored the mental models of librarians as it relates to allies and accomplices as part of a larger study that looked at librarian experiences with microaggression, discrimination, racism, and tools/strategies that can help librarians with daily challenges. Using a mixed-methods approach that included a survey and semi-structured interviews conducted via Zoom with participants across the United States and internationally, the study gathered insights from librarians and information professionals about their perceptions and experiences with allies and accomplices. Thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data and the major finding was 10 mental models of allies and accomplices. Mental models provide a framework to investigate librarians and information professionals’ understanding of allies and accomplices. The research also highlighted the role of microaggression in the daily life of librarians and information professionals, and the need for tools and strategies to help librarians and information professionals deal with the daily challenges.