Adjustments in the LIS Workplace for Neurodivergent Staff
Monday, October 6 · 10am – 3:30pm GMT+1
Leeds Beckett University, Headingly Campus
£25.00
This one day event is aimed at neurodivergent library and information workers who would appreciate the chance to share their experiences, and expand their knowledge of, adjustments in the workplace.
The event will consist of a mix of lightning talks, presentations, and a panel with the detailed programme to be confirmed closer to the event time for attendees. Topics include experiences of receiving a diagnosis and requesting adjustments, adjustments as a line manager or library leader, supporting neurodivergent colleagues with their adjustments, advocating for workplace needs and adjustments, barriers and challenges with workplace adjustments, the types of accommodations available to you and understanding your own needs, and personal experiences of adjustments that work for the individual speakers. Speakers come from a range of LIS backgrounds including academic libraries, school libraries, public libraries, and health libraries and recent LIS graduates, as well as also being involved in neurodiversity/accessibility groups and network within their organisations or externally.
“You deserve to take care of yourself”: The Workplace Experiences of Neurodivergent Librarians
NLISN are hosting an online event on September 2nd 3:30-4:30 BST where Dr Christine M. Moeller will be presenting findings from an IMLS-funded research project focused on the workplace experiences of neurodivergent librarians, focusing on the embodied knowledge that neurodivergent librarians enact while navigating barriers and opportunities in their workplace and profession.
Tuesday September 2nd 3:30-4:30 BST
Online
Although libraries are beginning to address neurodiversity, such efforts are primarily focused on patrons and fail to consider neurodivergent librarians. To navigate workplace barriers, neurodivergent librarians use their lived experience to develop and apply strategies that help them minimize some inaccessible aspects of their workplaces. These strategies represent forms of embodied knowledge. Embodied knowledge includes tactics like strategic disclosure and masking, but also knowledge of tools and other strategies, such as social critique, that can be deployed in various ways to navigate the workplace barriers and challenges that neurodivergent librarians encounter. During this session, participants will learn about these strategies and tactics for navigating ableist workplaces.
This is a free event, however you still need to book your place via Eventbrite in order to receive the event link and see further information about the event.
There is also a donation ticket option if you would like to support the work of NLISN. We have decided that all online events we run will be free, however a donation would support the costs of hosting the NLISN website, running in person events, and paying external speakers where a fee to speak would be required.
Equality, diversity, and inclusion in the research library: looking at recruitment practices
Thurs July 10th 2pm-3pm
Online
NLISN are hosting an online event where Christina Kamposiori, Programme Officer at Research Libraries UK (RLUK), will be presenting on recruitment practices from the perspective of equality, diversity, and inclusion in the research library.
This talk is based on the results of a piece of research conducted recently by RLUK, which aimed to showcase how RLUK institutions work towards developing more inclusive practices in workforce recruitment and retention. The results of this research enabled the development of a better understanding of the steps that RLUK research libraries currently take to establish new processes or review existing practices with the aim of becoming more inclusive and diverse places. This presentation will share key findings and examples of best practice that emerged from the research.
ANDPA & NLISN Community Catch Up
To mark Neurodiversity Awareness Month, we are excited to let you know that ANDPA and NLISN are hosting a shared community catch up on Tuesday 8th April 9am GMT (4pm AWST)
Tues 8th April 2025, 9am
Online
ANDPA is The Alliance for Neurodiversity and Disability in GLAMR Professions Australia.
The event will be similar to our coffee catch ups, and actually on the same day as our next scheduled one, but hosted at a time that works for both of us – just about!
If you’d like to meet some Australian librarians within a similar group, the theme will be: 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?
Register Here to sign up for the event.
Academic Libraries and Neurodiversity
Come along to an online session led by Emma Finney from Sheffield Hallam on academic libraries and supporting neurodivergent students.
Fri April 2025, 10 – 11am
Online
This is a free event, however you still need to book your place via Eventbrite in order to receive the event link and see further information about the event
There is also a donation ticket option if you would like to support the work of NLISN. We have decided that all online events we run will be free, however a donation would support the costs of hosting the NLISN website, running in person events, and paying external speakers where a fee to speak would be required.
Recruitment Experiences of Neurodivergent Library and Information Staff
NLISN are holding an online event on Wednesday 26th March 9:30am-3:00pm on the topic of recruitment experiences of neurodivergent library and information staff.
Weds 26th March 2025, 9:30am
Online
Click here for all presentation slides
The event will consist of a mix of lightning talks, presentations, and Q&As with the full programme to be confirmed closer to the event time. Topics range from individual experience case studies, application processes, interviews and interview testing, and inclusive approaches to recruitment. Speakers come from a range of LIS backgrounds including academic libraries, school libraries, health libraries, corporate libraries, recent LIS graduates, as well as third space roles aligned to the LIS sector.
This is a free event, however you still need to book your place via Eventbrite in order to receive the event link and see further information about the event
There is also a donation ticket option if you would like to support the work of NLISN. We have decided that all online events we run will be free, however a donation would support the costs of hosting the NLISN website, running in person events, and paying external speakers where a fee to speak would be required.
Being information literate as an autistic person in the library workplace
Join NLISN’s Amelia Haire as she presents her dissertation for her UCL master’s in Library and Information Studies
Mon, 20 Jan 2025 11:00 – 12:00 GMT
Online
Slides for the session are available here:
Join NLISN’s Amelia Haire as she presents her dissertation for her UCL master’s in Library and Information Studies: What does it mean to be information literate for an autistic person in the academic library workplace?
As Information Literacy, as a field, is only 50 years old, it would make sense that there are many areas that still have yet to be explored. After getting her Autism diagnosis in 2023, and beginning her MA at the same time, Amelia noticed a gap in the research between 1) the experience of autistic library staff rather than patrons 2) the autistic experience of becoming information literate in the workplace.
Bringing these gaps together launched a project that included a survey sent out to NLISN members, interviews, and a literature review that culminated in a unique opportunity for autistic librarians to have their voices heard.
Leading the Library’s Neurotypicals: Neurodivergent viewpoints
A chance for ND library and information workers to discuss their experiences, and to gain knowledge of, managing or leading Neurotypicals.
Tuesday, October 29 2024 · 10am – 4pm GMT
The Joseph Priestley Building Cardigan Street Birmingham B4 7BD
This one day event is aimed at neurodivergent library and information workers who would appreciate the chance to share their experiences, and expand their knowledge of, managing or leading neurotypicals.
We’ll invite talks from potential attendees as well as having structured discussions, so the full agenda will follow at a later point. Part of the day is sharing knowledge and experience, but just as important is the building of networks between ND leaders and potential leaders, which is why we’ve chosen an in-person event this time.
It is expected that attendees will all be neurodivergent* (self diagnoses welcome) and that it will be a safe space for honest and open discussion. We may make summaries of parts of the day more openly available to all afterwards, but only with the agreement of participants. As we understand that some attendees may not have declared their neurodivergencies, we may take photos of any presenters (with permission) during the day, but will not include any other identifiable attendees without asking permission and ask that anyone else taking photos also asks permission of anyone included.
We’ve tried to keep costs to a minumum, but if you need a free place and a bursary towards travel expenses, we’ll aim to make some available. Get in touch to ask for details (as we haven’t firmed them up yet). Anyone accepted to speak on the day will be offered a free ticket.
To help in keeping ticket prices to a minimum, lunch will not be provided (unless we gain some sponsorship between now and the event). Please bring your own lunch, or be prepared to source it from the cafe on site.
We’ll be based in BCU (exact room to be confirmed) – B4 7RJ – which is about a 20 minute walk from New Street train station.
Notes:
* It’s called “Leading the Library’s Neurotypicals” just because the alliteration was nice! We mean any library, information or archive service!
* NLISN’s activities are not normally aimed at allies or interested third parties.
Images:
- Posters expressing our thoughts on Neurodivergent Leadership
- Frog post its showing suggestions for what we would like to see happen
Neurospicy Libraries In Person Meet Up
The Academic Libraries North project, Neurospicy Libraries will host an in person meet up, for neurodivergent library staff across the UK and in ANY library, information, knowledge management and related data role, AND those who are aspiring to be recruited into this sector.
All neurodivergencies are welcome, with or without a formal diagnosis, including ASD/autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia and acquired brain conditions and any others. This group isn’t suitable for those with mental health conditions, except where this co-exists alongside a neurodivergency. If you think that we can help you, then you’re welcome to attend.
We will provide some refreshments, either snacks or full lunch depending on how many register. Please let us know your dietary requirements on booking, and any special requirements you need that will help you to attend, for example, we can meet you at a set place, put up signs, or all wear name badges.
The event will centre on forming a plan for the long term continuation for the group, but it is also a chance to be together and to talk in private. If we can do anything else to directly support you to get here on the day, whatever that is, for example providing detailed maps and directions, speaking to your line managers or a quick remote call to ask questions of us, then please email j.fitzpatrick2@lancaster.ac.uk
Looking forward to meeting you all in person and talking about our experiences together.
Joanne and Andy
Date: Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Time: 10:30am – 3:30pm
Place: Lancaster University Library
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Neurodivergent Library and Information Staff Network 