Client Diversity and Inclusion Policy (Libraries Tasmania)

Department for Education, Children and Young People

Client Diversity and

Inclusion Policy (Libraries

Tasmania)

Known, safe, well and learning Page 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Version 1.1 05/06/2023

1 Purpose ...................................................................................................................................................................................3

2 Policy Statement ...................................................................................................................................................................3

3 Guiding principles ................................................................................................................................................................3

4 Related policies .....................................................................................................................................................................5

5 Related procedures .............................................................................................................................................................5

6 Supporting information/tools ...........................................................................................................................................5

7 Legislation ...............................................................................................................................................................................6

Known, safe, well and learning Page 3

1 Purpose

The purpose of the Client Diversity and Inclusion Policy (Libraries Tasmania) is to:

• Outline our commitment to diversity and inclusion as it relates to our practices and engagement with

everyone who use our spaces and services.

• Identify the practices and expectations for all staff and volunteers to deliver on this commitment across all

Libraries Tasmania locations.

• Help foster an organisation-wide culture that celebrates diversity and contributes to an inclusive society.

2 Policy Statement

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is informed by our vision:

• All Tasmanians are connected, resilient, creative and curious thinkers,

enriched by the State’s libraries and archives.

Libraries Tasmania, through our network of public libraries, the State Library of Tasmania, Tasmanian

Archives and the Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts, recognises that every person is a complex

individual with multiple overlapping roles and identities. We make the commitment to promote and

actively support diversity and inclusion for all users, with a targeted focus on those from

traditionally under-served groups.

Libraries Tasmania’s aim is for all users to see themselves, their interests and lifestyles reflected in our

programs, services, spaces and collections. It is not enough for us to make people feel welcome and included,

our goal is for people to feel seen; to feel a sense of belonging and connection.

When considering diversity and inclusion, Libraries Tasmania is in a strong position to demonstrate

leadership in areas of positive social change. The International Federation of Library Associations and

Institutions (IFLA) recognises this by supporting the inclusion of libraries and access to information in national

and regional development plans to contribute to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable

Development.

As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, Libraries Tasmania is working with peak body National

and State Libraries Australasia (NSLA) to become a culturally safe library and archive service that provides

onsite and online environments which are emotionally safe for First Nations employees, volunteers and

users.

Under the Tasmanian State Service Code of Conduct and the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 (Tas), our staff must

treat everyone with respect and without harassment, victimisation, or discrimination. Although workplace

diversity is outside this Policy’s scope, Libraries Tasmania recognises that diversity within our own workforce

supports our ability to create a true sense of belonging and connection for our communities.

Further information on workplace diversity is available at State Service Diversity and Inclusion Policy Department

of Premier and Cabinet (DPAC).

3 Guiding principles

The following principles underpin our commitment to diversity and inclusion:

Principle

What this means for Libraries Tasmania

1. We are committed

to embracing and

promoting diversity

and inclusion and

cultural safety

across our

collections,

• We welcome everyone regardless of the characteristics that makes people unique

including but not limited to physical or cognitive ability, literacy abilities, age, ethnicity,

religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or financial situation.

• We take a holistic and intersectional approach to diversity recognising that the

concept of identity is complex.

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Principle

What this means for Libraries Tasmania

services, spaces and

programs

• We celebrate the diversity of the Tasmanian community and value the benefits this

diversity brings.

• We embed diversity and inclusion best practices in our policies, procedures, services

and facilities.

2. Everyone who visits

a Libraries

Tasmania physical

or online site feels

safe, respected,

included and

connected

• We want people to feel welcome from the first moment they engage with our staff

and services.

• We aim to provide spaces that are usable by all people, promoting an individual’s

access and independence.

• We use inclusive language in our communications and are responsive to the needs of

individuals in our policies and practices.

• We seek to relate to more users, including potential users through our

communication and promotional activities.

3. Our planning and

service delivery

considers the needs

of all people in the

community

• We invite the public to have a voice in creating safe, collaborative places, collections,

and services, through mechanisms such as consultation and co-design.

• We partner with other organisations that align with our Strategic Directions and

values to expand our service offerings, reach broader audiences, and leverage

resources.

4. We provide

everyone with the

opportunity to

participate in

community life and

to contribute to

society

• We support the fundamental human rights for free access to information and uphold

the right of individuals to set and follow their own standards for acceptable reading

materials.

• We support social and digital inclusion by providing access to information,

knowledge, ideas, computers, and the internet to everyone.

• We promote and provide support for people to use our services, especially those

who may not have previously thought it was for them.

• We offer most of our services and programs for free or at a low cost.

• We take our services to where people are through outreach activities such as at

community-based centres and local events.

5. Our collections

reflect the diversity

of the communities

we serve

• We manage and curate lending collection areas on a state-wide basis that includes a

range of formats and topics and interests reflecting the diverse needs and lived

experiences of our users.

• We collect and preserve Tasmania’s documentary heritage materials that are

representative of Tasmania’s diverse society and seek to make this information

available to anyone who wishes to use it.

• We curate and prioritise exhibitions that explore and celebrate diversity, equity, and

inclusion as these relate to the Tasmanian story.

• We provide multiple ways to help users find what they are looking for including

signage, catalogues and navigation tools when visiting our locations or viewing our

collections online.

6. We champion

lifelong learning and

the pursuit of

knowledge for

• We focus on adult literacy and digital literacy skill development to help more people

to meet the demands of modern work and life.

• We build strong literacy foundations through our early learning programs.

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Principle

What this means for Libraries Tasmania

people at all stages

of life

• We help people find information about learning and studying as an adult in Tasmania.

• We empower people to think critically about information through media and

information literacy support.

Our staff have the

knowledge, skills

and capacity to

support our

diversity and

inclusion agenda

•

We value and support the diversity of our workforce and strive to build on this. We

uphold and adhere to workforce diversity and inclusion principles for recruitment

and selection in accordance with the State Service Diversity and Inclusion Policy.

• We prioritise staff professional learning on topics relating to diversity and inclusion

and engaging effectively with traditionally under-served groups.

• We commit to providing a consistent standard of service across our public sites so

people can expect the same standard regardless of which Libraries Tasmania location

they are visiting.

• We support our staff to speak up and act if they witness unacceptable behaviour in

accordance with our Responsible Conduct Policy (Libraries Tasmania).

4 Related policies

• Responsible Conduct Policy (Libraries Tasmania)

• State Service Diversity and Inclusion Policy (Department of Premier and Cabinet)

5 Related procedures

• Responsible Conduct Procedure (Libraries Tasmania).

6 Supporting information/tools

• Inclusion Action Plan 2023 for Tasmanians with disability (Libraries Tasmania)

• Inclusion Action Plan 2023 for culturally and linguistically diverse Tasmanians (Libraries Tasmania)

• Inclusion Action Plan 2023 for LGBTIQ+ Tasmanians (Libraries Tasmania)

• Building diversity and inclusion in the Tasmanian State Service (Department of Premier and Cabinet)

• Culturally Safe Libraries Program (NSLA)

• Digital Inclusion for 21st Century Learners (Department for Education, Children and Young People)

• Inclusive Language Guidelines (Department for Education, Children and Young People)

• Libraries and Digital Futures (Libraries Tasmania)

• Libraries can drive progress across the entire UN 2030 Agenda (International Federation of Library

Associations-United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization [IFLA])

• Public Library Manifesto 2022 (IFLA)

• Statement on free access to information (Australian Library and Information Association [ALIA])

• Statement on public library services (ALIA)

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7 Legislation

• Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 (Tas)

• Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cwth)

• Libraries Act 1984 (Tas)

• State Service Act 2000 (Tas)

Authorised by: Anita Planchon, Director Strategy and Engagement, Libraries Tasmania

Contact: execdirector.libraries@education.tas.gov.au

Last significant review: 6 December 2022

Review due: 6 December 2024

This document replaces: None