Interrogating the Lack of Pay Transparency in Library Faculty Job Postings

Date

2022-06-15

Authors

Hight, Alexa
Hernandez, Patricia Lynn
DeForest, Lea

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Texas A&M University System Virtual Library Conference

Abstract

Description

Pay transparency is just one of many obstacles facing applicants and exacerbates barriers faced by candidates who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color (BIPOC), and particularly applicants who identify as women of color (WOC). Academic libraries in Texas are facing challenges to filling open positions and pay transparency policies (or lack thereof) are standing in the way of equitable recruitment efforts. Panelists will briefly highlight some of the obstacles faced by applicants, and focus primarily on the obstacle posed by the lack of pay transparency in job postings for library faculty positions. This session would be relevant to anyone who is affected by staffing shortages, serves on hiring committees, works in administration and/or human resources, and is committed to making real changes to improve diversity and equity in hiring practices. Panelists from the Mary and Jeff Bell Library at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi and the Texas Digital Library consortium will interrogate the lack of pay transparency in job postings for library faculty positions among A&M System institutions. By using data collected from Texas higher education institutions, presenting research regarding challenges to recruitment efforts in academic libraries in Texas, and sharing personal experiences, panelists hope to highlight reasons why pay transparency in job postings improves equitable recruitment practices. Participants will be invited to join alongside panelists in an informal discussion about their experiences with pay transparency, their ideas for change, and collaborate to develop a strategy for advocacy for A&M System institutions and beyond.

Citation