Shifts: How Changes in the US Black Population Impact Racial Inclusion and Representation in LIS Education

Abstract

This demographic study contributes to scholarship on the recruitment of Blacks into the US LIS workforce by situating Black librarianship within broader population trends. The research combines historical LIS reports, Africana studies scholarship, and federal data to describe how long-term transitions in the overall US Black population influence LIS. Issues pertaining to middle-class job prospects, higher education attainment, and immigration are investigated. A review of varied evidence suggests that librarianship as a career option remains largely out of sight or out of reach for many Blacks. The article provides recommendations for LIS leaders to achieve synergized recruitment and inclusion efforts.