This Diversity & Inclusion ePortfolio (D&I-eP) was developed as part of my work in CIS 650: Applying Diversity Leadership Theories & Praxis during the Spring 2025 semester. In this section, I examine the communication strategies and information service responses of the User Services Division at Emory Libraries and Museum, located in Atlanta, Georgia. This section highlights promising practices from comparable case studies—organizations that serve similarly diverse populations—which offer valuable insights for enhancing information services within my collaborating agency.
For the Promising Practices and Environmental Scan section of this project, I will focus on the Labriola National American Indian Data Center at Arizona State University. I have selected this institution due to its distinctive mission of serving Indigenous students, faculty, and Tribal communities in the region. While not explicitly articulated, their broad definition of "community" transcends traditional academic boundaries, emphasizing partnerships with marginalized groups. Through my ePortfolio, I aim to develop a similar framework for User Services within the context of Academic Librarianship and regional collaboration.
Collections
The Labriola National American Indian Data Center offers a rich and distinctive collection that can enhance our User Services student organization collaboration, especially in initiatives focused on equity, representation, and inclusive programming. The center features contemporary works by Indigenous scholars, authors, and artists, alongside extensive archival materials such as manuscripts, oral histories, Tribal Nation newspapers, microfilm, political papers, photographs, and rare or out-of-print publications. This diverse repository provides valuable opportunities for educational programming, resource guides, and community partnerships that foreground Indigenous voices and histories.
Simon J. Ortiz Papers: Representing a foundational figure in Native American literature, this collection offers deep insight into Ortiz’s work as a writer and scholar. It could serve as a powerful foundation for programs exploring Indigenous storytelling, literary activism, and decolonizing research practices. [Finding aid available here.]
Trudie Jackson Papers: Trudie Jackson’s archive documents the life and work of a trailblazing Navajo transgender activist. This collection supports intersectional programming and resource development that centers 2SLGBTQ+ Indigenous experiences and advocacy. [Access the collection here.]
Jean Chaudhuri Papers: A multifaceted Native American activist, author, and storyteller, Chaudhuri’s work spans voting rights, community leadership, and justice reform. Her papers can inform civic engagement workshops or speaker series that connect past and present movements for equity and representation.
Resources
Instruction and research consultation
The Labriola Center offers personalized research support that respects Indigenous perspectives. Whether you're in a class or seeking one-on-one guidance, their librarians help you navigate both digital databases and unique archival materials, ensuring your research is both comprehensive and culturally sensitive.
Culturally appropriate advanced database searching
Understanding that traditional library systems often misrepresent Indigenous topics, Labriola librarians teach advanced search strategies. They guide you in using both broad and specific terms to uncover relevant materials, helping you access information that's often hidden due to outdated or biased indexing.
Indigenous Community-Driven Archives
Since 2019, the Labriola Center has engaged Arizona tribes through workshops that emphasize Indigenous perspectives in archival practices. Participants learn about archival processes, photo analysis, and oral history interviews, and receive an "Archives Starter Kit" to support their preservation efforts.
Strategic Representations
Labriola staff seeks to meaningfully engage with the ASU and local community through Indigenous librarianship. They encourage community members, Indigenous ASU students, faculty, and staff to visit their centers at Hayden and Fletcher libraries.
Instruction and research consultation
Labriola librarians at the ASU Library are uniquely equipped to facilitate culturally responsive research support, offering a nuanced understanding of the colonization and decolonization of information. Through instructional sessions and individualized research consultations, they intentionally incorporate inclusive pedagogical practices that honor Indigenous knowledge systems and community-centered scholarship.
These engagements connect students with a broad spectrum of resources—from peer-reviewed articles in academic databases to rare, non-circulating materials housed within the Distinctive Collections and archival manuscripts. Whether guiding students through digital platforms or primary source materials, Labriola librarians foster critical dialogue around the ethics of knowledge production, cultural context, and the impact of research on Indigenous communities.
This inclusive approach not only deepens students’ understanding of their research topics but also models a framework for community-engaged scholarship that respects sovereignty, amplifies historically marginalized voices, and cultivates responsible information stewardship.
News and Events (internal)
The Labriola National American Indian Data Center regularly distributes a newsletter that highlights programs, lectures, research initiatives, awards, spaces, and community engagement projects. This communication is tailored to serve ASU Indigenous students, faculty, and regional Tribal communities.
News and Events (external)
The Labriola National American Indian Data Center actively engages Indigenous students and community members through various library programs and outreach initiatives in collaboration with Arizona Tribal Nations. To learn more about their community programs, including the community music-making series, blog resources, and news updates, visit their website [here].