Neurodivergent Library and Information Staff Network

Hello!

Welcome to the spring edition of NLISN news:

We’ll be sharing articles, resources, reviews, detail of recent NLISN events, research projects, and member news. Feel free to drop us a line with any feedback or suggestions.

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NLISN were delighted to learn that we are the organisational recipient of the Lynne Mackie Accessibility Award 2024, and we are officially an award winning group!

The CILIP Disability Network is a special interest group within the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. The award is given in memory of Lynne Mackie, a librarian with a stammer who was very active in supporting others with stammers.

To receive a memorial award honouring a library professional with a stammer, who believed in the power of connection and community, is especially meaningful for us. Many of the network members have stammers as part of their neurodivergent profile and we are sure that Lynne would have been an incredible colleague to connect with, learn from, and maybe we would have been fortunate enough to have her be involved with NLISN.

There will be a written piece in CILIP’s magazine ‘Information Professional’ soon.

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Three members of the NLISN committee, Caroline Ball, Andy Walsh and Joanne Fitzpatrick delivered a panel at the recent UKSG conference:

The UKSG conference, held on the 1^st April, was chaired by Josh Sendall, Director of Library Services at the University of Leeds.

“We discussed our own lived experiences of neurodivergency, our work at NLISN, and how we can leverage our expertise to support neurodivergent library users and staff of all types.“

The panel received a high amount of positive feedback, and offers of partnership and further collaboration. The discussion was also mentioned in this write up of the conference that highlights the key theme of inclusivity and belonging. 

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Our pilot of offering a buddying scheme is about to draw to a close, as we have managed to find matches for nearly all the people who wanted to be involved.

Thanks to all of the people who have offered their time and for everyone’s patience as we learn how to best approach this work.

NLISN is planning on evaluating this pilot carefully over the coming months, so if you’ve just been matched and are about to start, are mid-buddying or your relationship with your buddy has drawn to a close, expect to hear from us for your opinions soon.

If you’re interested in finding out more about the NLISN buddying scheme, there is lots more information on our website.

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On the 8^th April, we hosted a joint community catch up event with our Australian counterparts ANDPA.org.

We were pleased to see an almost even mix of UK and Australian librarians at this event, which was of course at slightly awkward times for both of us given the time difference. However, we had a good turnout nonetheless and it was great to see the motivation from both sides to connect across the world.

ANDPA chair Emilia Bell led a discussion on the theme of Unique Minds, Many Strengths, using the discussion prompt: What’s one unique approach or perspective you bring to professional settings because of your lived experience? which all attendees engaged with really well.

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In July last year, co-chairs Joanne and Andy developed NLISN’s first core set of offers: an online presence, events and buddying, which as a committee we have been dedicating our spare time to ever since.

This year, we’d like to share our achievements in an annual report, with accompanying open AGM which all network members and allies can attend. This will allow us to share what we have achieved this year and our plans for the following year.

A new and more ambitious annual plan will be developed soon that includes new ideas that the network have asked us to provide. Watch this space!

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The Hidden 20%

The Hidden 20% is a weekly podcast featuring a variety of guests chatting about the positives & challenges of thinking differently.

She’s Opinionated: Science-based insights on female ADHD, autism, positive psychology and wellbeing.

Science-based insights about ADHD, autism, positive psychology and wellbeing, and honest self-reflection on lived experience.

“She’s opinionated” empowers other women with knowledge, female allyship, and a space to be verbal about the challenges we face as neurodivergent women, non-binary and AFAB.

NiB Research. Neurodiversity in the Workplace, Annual Reports.

Neurodiversity in Business (NiB) has around 1000 of the world’s leading organisations as corporate members. We partner with them to develop, improve and share industry good practice which promotes neuroinclusion in the workplace. Our industry forum is a collaborative space where members build on each other’s successes, encourage neuroinclusive cultures and ensure fair access to opportunities for neurodivergent workers.

NiB in partnership with Birkbeck, University of London, publishes an annual report on the evolving landscape of neurodiversity in business, based on ground-breaking research is the first of its kind, highlighting into the needs and concerns of the ND workforce.