Ruth Xing, Yuzhou Bai
This study evaluates the extent to which job descriptions for special collections librarians reflect organizational values surrounding Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA). In early 2024, the authors began by reviewing thirty randomly selected advertisements posted to the RBMS News Blog in 2023, using a newly devised DEIA Assessment Checklist. This paper summarizes past practices and common pitfalls in the recruitment of diverse candidates through job descriptions. Considering the key legislative and political changes in early 2025, the authors also seek to guide institutions unable to openly adopt DEIA language on alternative ways to portray organizational values in the recruitment process.