Martha Parker Provides Examples of How Communal Networks Help Retain People of Color in Academia

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Martha Parker is the University Libraries digital services librarian.

Martha Parker, digital services librarian at the University of Arkansas Libraries, contributed to Where are all the Librarians of Color? The Experiences of People of Color in Academia, edited by Rebecca Hankins and Miguel Juárez.

Hankins and Juarez, the books' editors, write that Parker's chapter, "examines the ways in which collaborative partnerships among librarians of color, within and even across institutions, can greatly assist in job satisfaction, retention of professionals, and bolstering librarians' sense of support throughout their careers." Parker's essay provides specific examples and models for readers.

The book was published just last month by Library Juice Press as part of a series on Critical Multiculturalism in Information Studies.

In Parker's chapter, titled "Establishing a Communal Network for Professional Advancement among Librarians of Color," she guides members of the Association of College and Research Libraries' Diversity Committee, of which she was the chair in 2014-2015, in "sharing experiences and strategies that generate networks for professional advancement in academic libraries," she said.

Parker explained, "Even by volunteering on the ACRL Diversity Committee, this group was able to establish a support network, becoming informal, yet valuable peer mentors for each other. Through these collaborations, vital relationships and support systems can be formed, even if the term 'mentor' is not officially uttered between colleagues."

"Leveraging existing networks and creating collaborative partnerships are essential to librarians of color who might find themselves as one of the few, if not only, professionals of color within their home libraries," Parker said. "By doing so, we are contributing to an environment that is conducive to meaningful and creative work."

Part of the chapter is also devoted to exploring the efforts of the University of Arkansas Libraries' own diversity committee to promote diversity programming to enhance the experiences of all constituents attending or working at the University. Parker wrote this chapter while she was Librarian in Residence at the University Libraries. The Librarian in Residence program's purpose is to increase the diversity of professional staff at the Libraries and to encourage the involvement of underrepresented groups in academic librarianship.

Parker was involved in bringing Rigoberta Menchú to campus last October. Menchú, a 1992 Nobel Peace Prize winner, "provided a strong example of strength and determination to those who attended her various events," Parker said.

"Menchú demonstrated that is possible to overcome economic and educational barriers to improve her own life, and the lives of the Guatemalan indigenous community. Menchú's visit remains one of the most remarkable memories from my three and a half years as the Librarian in Residence."