ARLIS/NA 53rd Annual Conference

Transforming library and archival collection practices necessitates challenging traditional perspectives and highlighting histories from underengaged identities. From confronting biases in visual collections to organizing vast troves of vernacular photographs to navigating the intricacies of cross-cultural dance archives, these presentations explore how libraries and archives can actively engage with their collections and community to promote equity, accessibility, and cultural preservation.

"DIY DEI: How Taking Small Steps Can Lead to Big Changes" demonstrates that decolonizing visual collections, while daunting, is achievable through incremental steps such as digitization projects, faculty collaborations and initiatives like Concordia University's Visual Collections Repository Curator-in-Residence program.

"Ways of Seeing (And Finding)" delves into the challenges of processing a large vernacular photograph collection, highlighting the tension between archival practices and the activation of "orphan" images. It emphasizes the importance of visual literacy and the research potential of such photographic collections, drawing parallels with works of art that utilize photographic archives, as well as other modes of collecting and displaying photographs, such as W. E. B. Du Bois's collection of photographs of Black Americans.

"Navigating the Complexity of Cross-Cultural Dance Resources Collections at ASU: Challenges and Opportunities" addresses the unique demands of an interdisciplinary dance archive. It advocates for prioritization, digitization, and community-driven curation, showcasing the power of Indigenous collaborations and "rematriation" in ethical stewardship and knowledge-sharing.

This panel collectively underscores the critical role of information professionals in reshaping institutional practices to foster inclusive and meaningful engagement with diverse research resources.

DIY DEI: How Small Steps Can Lead to Big Changes - Pamela Caussy

Ways of Seeing (And Finding) - Annie Sollinger

Navigating the Complexity of Cross-Cultural Dance Resources: Challenges and Opportunities - Shan Chuah