In 2017 the National Library of Ireland took active steps to become a more diverse and inclusive cultural institution. A Gender Policy and Diversity Strategy Focus Group made up of Library staff, met to discuss how to improve diversity and inclusion in the Library; covering topics such as programming, collections, acquisitions, exhibitions, digitisation and the building itself. From this group, a Diversity and Inclusion Committee was established and with the help of an external facilitator, a Diversity and Inclusion Policy was drafted, approved and published. The policy was launched by the Minister of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht with various invited guests, representing diverse groups in Irish society in attendance. In partnership with the Creative Ireland Programme, in early February 2019, the NLI will hold a consultative workshop on the policy in the style of a World Cafe; the event will bring together representatives from various diverse communities in Ireland. The forum will focus on the policy and invite attendees to provide feedback on how the NLI can collaborate more effectively with underrepresented communities. The aim of the World Café is to provide insight on how to better represent diverse communities in Ireland and facilitate more inclusive access to the National Library of Ireland. This presentation will discuss the outcomes of the workshop and how the NLI will take practical steps to represent diverse communities in Ireland through its collections, events and accessibility.

1. Diversity and Inclusivity at the
National Library of Ireland
Joanne Carroll and Maria Ryan
National Library of Ireland
LAI/CILIP Conference, 11th April 2019

2. • 1986 census showed that only 5.3 % of
Ireland’s population were born outside
of Ireland; 2016 Census, 17.3% of the
population was born outside of Ireland,
from 200 different countries
• Marriage Equality Referendum in 2015,
Employment Equality legislation,
National Disability Strategy and the
National LGBTI Inclusion Strategy.
Changing Ireland

3. Changing Ireland
• Represent all aspects of Ireland in our
collections
• Represent in all our activities
• Equal access is granted regardless of
gender, civil status, family status, sexual
orientation, religious belief, age,
disability, race, membership of the
Traveller community or socio-economic
status.

4. Collections
Cataloguing
Digitisation
Exhibitions
Programming
Building and
estates
Staffing
Building on diverse and
inclusive foundations
CLON585 : Stone masons/work men at work on large house: Clonbrock Photographic Collection

5. Gender Policy
• #WakingtheFeminists
• Initiative of
Department of
Culture, Heritage and
the Gaeltacht
• National Cultural
Institutions to
develop gender
equality policies
Gender Counts, an analysis of gender
in Irish Theatre 2006-2016

6. • Develop a Diversity and Inclusion Policy for the NLI
• Staff volunteers from across the Library
• Worked with external facilitator Olwen Dawe
• Touched on all aspects of the Library’s work, including:
staffing and HR, cataloguing, acquisitions, exhibitions,
digitisation, programming, estates.
Policy Working Group
POOLEWP 1577:
Mr. Meardon, Bonmahon mines, group, men
working at hole;
The Poole Photographic Collection

7. • Policy launched in
June 2018 by the
Minister of
Culture, Heritage
and the Gaeltacht
• Guests from
various
representative
groups attended
Diversity and Inclusion Policy

9. – Review our Collections Development
Policy through the lens of diversity and
inclusion
– Improve physical access and visibility
in the new building design
– Ensure that our programmes,
exhibitions, and engagement with the
public reflect diversity in our work and
collaborations
– Actively consider diversity and
inclusion in developing cataloguing
and digitisation projects
– Seek collaborative opportunities to
broaden our reach
– Continue our commitment to equality
legislation for all employees and
visitors.

10. Diversity and Inclusion Committee

11. Diversity and Inclusion Forum
• Key priority- to engage with communities
• World Café forum
• 70 invited guests
• Funding from Creative Ireland

12. Diversity and Inclusion Forum
1. How can the NLI collect in a more representative
way?
2. How could we make the NLI more welcoming and
accessible to you?
3. How can the NLI be more reflective of Ireland’s
diversity in our programmes/exhibitions and
public engagement?
4. How might the NLI be more innovative?
5. What would you like to collaborate with us on?
6. What could be the barriers or obstacles to
delivering the policy?
7. Are we reaching everyone we should be? How can
we communicate better
8. What does the NLI mean to you?

13. 1. Collect
• Create awareness
about the work of the
NLI
• Work with partners
and Ambassadors
• Collect new mediums
like podcasts
• Rural Ireland is not
represented enough

14. 2. Protect
• Better visibility of the
NLI.
• Partnerships with
NGO’s, community
groups etc.
• Make better use of
public space.

15. 3. Connect
• Advisory
Council/Committee.
• Make collections
online.
• Connect with
festivals and events.
• Collect present
events for the
future.

16. 4. Innovate
• Increased social
media presence
• Promote popular
culture
collections
• Rebrand
• Increased
advertisement

17. 5. Collaborate
• Advisory group
• Collaboration
• Work with local
libraries
• Host “visit days” for
groups.

18. 6. Delivery
• Can’t collect
everything
• Some groups don’t feel
represented
• Budget & resource
restrictions

19. 7. Communication
• Invest in digital
• Work with schools
and community
groups
• Website & Social
media
• Create more events
like culture night

20. 8. What does the
NLI mean to you?
• Highlight what we
do for
communities
• Extent of
collections
• Openness and
accessibility of the
NLI

21. Response to Forum
Response & Recommendations:
• Positive feedback
• Use online engagement and community
networks to reach out
• Advise communities how to collect locally
• Review the national collections for
representation
• Accessibility of our buildings and signage
• Young people
• Staff capacity / resources / external
advisory council

22. Next Steps
• Continued communication with
participants
• Implementation plan to LT & Board.
• Outline current & planned initiatives
• Programming
• Translation of policy
• Digital collections policy
• Accessible events- ISL
• Building project
• Collaborative web archiving projects

23. Thank you
Any questions or feedback, please email:
diversity@nli.ie
NPA SHE54; [Postcard of woman at writing desk]: Sheehy Skeffington Photographic Collection