Addressing the 'Emerging Majority': Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Law Librarianship in the Twenty-First Century

Abstract

Since at least the 1970s, there have been real concerns in law librarianship with how to increase racial and ethnic diversity in the profession. Yet, as the country has grown more diverse over the past several decades, and despite multiple minority recruitment efforts that have occurred during that same time period, diversity in law librarianship has remained relatively stagnant. This paper updates existing literature by investigating the implications of recent and drastic demographic changes in the U.S. population on the profession of law librarianship. It also explores potential reasons behind problems in attracting minorities to the field, and provides contemporary suggestions for stepping up diversity efforts in law libraries and among law librarians across the country.