Expanding the Narrative of Intercultural Competence

Abstract

Libraries and library professionals are challenged daily to adapt to the changing cultural makeup of the colleges and universities in which they are situated. Being culturally competent is a journey, and more research needs to be done to determine where library workers are in their individual journeys in order for libraries to be inclusive and adaptive. In this project, we measure the intercultural competence of a small sample of library workers at a large research-intensive university using the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) and the Beliefs, Events, Values Inventory (BEVI). Participants identified and engaged with cultures that were not their own and then self-debriefed about them. Our research suggests that those who intentionally engage with other cultures will become more culturally competent.

Keywords

• academic libraries
• intercultural competence
• intercultural development
• professional development