Code of Conduct

Summit Mission

The mission of the POCinLIS Summit is to create a productive and brave space for people of color, especially women and marginalized identities, working in the information sector. Individuals will have the opportunity to explore their work in LIS and their intersecting identities as POC+. This summit invites attendees to challenge their roles and actions as information workers and aims to collectively establish rules of engagement and discourse. We acknowledge that dominant narratives may be disrupted. This space is created to support the research of POC librarians and create a network of POC information workers for future collaboration and self-care.

Statement of Intent

In an effort to support this mission, presenters, attendees, and organizers are expected to participate in a welcome, engaging, and considerate environment in the summit's online spaces and social media. Furthermore, we have outlined and will uphold the following actions before, during, and after the summit:

  • Provided a code of conduct including expectations for attendee behavior online during POCinLIS Summit (see Expectations)
  • Explicitly outlined and defined forms of harassment, including unacceptable behavior, anddiscrimination.(see Definitions)
  • Clearly outlined the consequences for those who engage in harassing or discriminatory behavior (see Conflict Resolution)
  • Provided a system for reporting any harassing or discriminatory behavior (see Grievance Reporting)

Expectations

Summit attendees are expected to treat others respectfully and fairly no matter their ethnicity, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, language, economic status, religious/spiritual beliefs, and political beliefs. Harmful, offensive, and/or racist language will absolutely not be allowed. Attendees are expected to model active listening behaviors without interrupting others including following online instructions and etiquette. Feedback should be expressed with a willingness to both listen and learn using the provided online channels.

In addition, attendees are asked to adhere to the following:

  • The recording or transmissions of any sessions, presentations, demos, videos, or content in any format is prohibited unless indicated by the organizers and facilitators.
  • Disruption of presentations during virtual sessions and meetings is not allowed. All attendees are asked to comply with the instructions of the facilitators and organizers in the virtual space. Attendees who do not comply will be asked to leave the virtual space and may undergo steps outlined under Conflict Resolution.s
  • Presentations, postings, and messages should not contain promotional materials, special offers, job offers, product announcements, or solicitation for services. The POCinLIS summit reserves the right to remove such messages and potentially ban sources of those solicitations.
  • Attendees should not copy or take screenshots of Q&A or any chat room activity that takes place in the virtual space

      • Definitions:

      Harassment includes, as outlined in the ACRL NEC Code of Conduct, but is not limited to:
      • Unwelcome or offensive verbal comments or nonverbal expressions related to: gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, individual lifestyles, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, national origin, employment or military status, physical or cognitive ability; political affiliation; or religion (or lack thereof)
      • Use of sexual and/or discriminatory images in public spaces (including online)
      • Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following
      • Harassing photography or recording Sustained disruption of talks or other events
      • Inappropriate or unwelcome physical contact
      • Unwelcome sexual attention
      • Bullying behavior
      • Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior

      Discrimination:

      According to UNESCO, discrimination includes unfavourable treatment of an individual or individuals on the basis of: gender, race, color or ethnic or national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, social class, age (subject to the usual conventions on retirement), marital status or family responsibilities, or as a result of any conditions or requirements that do not accord with the principles of fairness and natural justice.

      Conflict Resolution:

      Anyone displaying combative or harassing behavior will be subject to appropriate action as agreed upon by the conference organizers. This may include a disclosed conversation, restorative discussion between attendees, or dismissal from the summit.

      Grievance Reporting:

      To report a grievance, text or call us at your convenience. Contact number will be provided the day of summit.
      As organizers, we expect all attendees to follow the code of conduct outlined here. You can expect us to take all grievances seriously and respond to the best of our ability.

      Conclusion

      The POC in LIS Summit is an opportunity for self-reflection, advocacy, and collaboration. Attendees are expected to agree upon and uphold the standards of conduct listed above as colleagues and members of an engaged community. Attendees who do not comply with this code will be subject to the actions stated above (see Conflict Resolution) and/or removal from the virtual space.

      We hope to form a community that empowers one another through conversation and respect in this summit. As such, we expect attendees to follow this code of conduct during the summit and at any summit-related virtual spaces.

      Summit Organizers

      Nataly Blas
      Aisha Conner-Gaten
      Jennifer Masunaga
      Jessea Young

      POCinLIS Summit Contact Email: pocinlis@gmail.com

      This Code of Conduct was adapted from:

      ”ASBMB virtual events code of conduct.” American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASMBMB), https://www.asbmb.org/meetings-events/virtual-events-webinars/code-of-conduct.

      Bonnie J. Schmidt, Brent R. MacWilliams, Leslie Neal-Boylan. "Becoming Inclusive: A Code of Conduct for Inclusion and Diversity." Journal of Professional Nursing, vol. 33, iss. 2, 2017, pp. 102-107, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2016.08.014.

      "Code of Conduct." Association of College & Research Libraries New England Chapter (ACRLNEC), 2018, https://acrlnec.org/annual-conference/code-of-conduct/.

      "Code of Conduct." California Academic & Research Libraries Conference 2018, http://conf2018.carl-acrl.org/code-of-conduct/.

      "Code of Conduct." Women in Tech Summit, 2017, https://womenintechsummit.net/code-of-conduct/.

      "Code of Conduct." Women Who Code, 2018, https://www.womenwhocode.com/codeofconduct.

      "Code of Ethics." National Women's Studies Association, 2005, https://www.nwsa.org/content.asp?contentid=46.

      "Discrimination." United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, 2017, http://www.unesco.org/new/en/social-and-human-sciences/themes/international-migration/glossary/discrimination/.