Project MUSE - In Pursuit of Antiracist Social Justice: Denaturalizing Whiteness in the Academic Library [Skip to Content] Institutional Login LOG IN browse or Search: menu Advanced Search Browse MyMUSE Account Log In / Sign Up Change My Account User Settings Access via Institution MyMUSE Library Search History View History Purchase History MyMUSE Alerts Contact Support Library Trends In Pursuit of Antiracist Social Justice: Denaturalizing Whiteness in the Academic Library Freeda Brook, Dave Ellenwood, Althea Eannace Lazzaro Library Trends Johns Hopkins University Press Volume 64, Number 2, Fall 2015 pp. 246-284 10.1353/lib.2015.0048 Article View Citation Additional Information Purchase/rental options available: Buy Issue for $20 at JHUP Abstract This article examines racism and the culture of Whiteness in academic libraries in three major areas of public services: space, staffing, and reference service delivery. The authors perform a critical discourse analysis, drawing on critical race theory, critical geography, critical education, and social psychology to examine foundational library scholarship and professional standards. Academic libraries, as products and representations of their parent institutions, are situated within the well-documented systemic and institutional racism of higher education in the United States. This is reflected in the monocultural geography and spaces of academic libraries. It is seen in the organizational culture and hiring practices of libraries, which are overwhelmingly staffed by White workers, while serving an increasingly diverse student body. Finally, it is reflected in the traditional tenets of reference service delivery, including approachability, responsiveness, and objectivity. The authors argue that racism is embedded in academic libraries through a culture of Whiteness. Consistent with social justice traditions in librarianship, they offer tools and suggestions to realign the profession with antiracist values and practices that will enable libraries to better serve their communities. collapse You are not currently authenticated. If you would like to authenticate using a different subscribed institution or have your own login and password to Project MUSE Authenticate Purchase/rental options available: Buy Issue for $20 at JHUP Recommend Additional Information ISSN 1559-0682 Print ISSN 0024-2594 Pages pp. 246-284 Launched on MUSE 2016-02-18 Open Access No Project MUSE Mission Project MUSE promotes the creation and dissemination of essential humanities and social science resources through collaboration with libraries, publishers, and scholars worldwide. Forged from a partnership between a university press and a library, Project MUSE is a trusted part of the academic and scholarly community it serves. about MUSE Story Publishers Discovery Partners Advisory Board Journal Subscribers Book Customers Conferences what's on muse Open Access Journals Books MUSE in Focus T.S. Eliot Prose resources News & Announcements Promotional Material Get Alerts Presentations information for Publishers Librarians Individuals Instructors Contact Contact Us Help Policy & Terms Accessibility Privacy Policy Terms of Use 2715 North Charles Street Baltimore, Maryland, USA 21218 +1 (410) 516-6989 muse@press.jhu.edu ©2020 Project MUSE. Produced by Johns Hopkins University Press in collaboration with The Sheridan Libraries. Now and Always, The Trusted Content Your Research Requires Now and Always, The Trusted Content Your Research Requires Built on the Johns Hopkins University Campus Built on the Johns Hopkins University Campus ©2020 Project MUSE. Produced by Johns Hopkins University Press in collaboration with The Sheridan Libraries. Back To Top This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Without cookies your experience may not be seamless.