Code of Conduct

Summit Mission

The mission of POC in LIS Summit is to create a productive and brave space for people of color, especially women and marginalized identities, working in the information sector. Information workers will have the opportunity to explore their work in LIS as POC and their intersecting identities as BIPOC. This summit invites participants to challenge and interrogate their roles and actions as information workers. This summit aims to collectively establish rules of engagement and discourse, acknowledging 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 at Loyola Marymount University, as well as in the summit's online spaces. 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 in person and online during POC in LIS Summit (see Expectations)
  • Explicitly outlined and defined forms of harassment and discrimination (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. Attendees are expected to model active listening behaviors without interrupting others. Feedback should be expressed with a willingness to both listen and learn.

Definitions:

Harassment includes, as outlined in the ACRLNEC 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:

Should you need to report a grievance, please locate one of the conference organizers listed below. Or, email pocinlis@gmail.com.

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 space.

We hope to form a community that empowers one another through conversation and respect starting with this summit. As such, we expect participants to follow this code of conduct during the summit and at any summit-related social events.

Summit Contacts

Nataly Blas
Aisha Conner-Gaten
Jennifer Masunaga
Jessea Young
Marisa Ramirez

POCinLIS Summit Contact Email: pocinlis@gmail.com

This Code of Conduct was adapted from:

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/page/about-NWSA#code-of-ethics.