Dr Villagran and Graduate Research Assistant, Kristie Barlas, will present “Intervening for Equity: Building Cultural Competence in Library and Information Science Research Processes” at the SIETAR USA conference, https://sietarusa.org/2025-Conference

Culturally Competent Research in Library and Information Science (CCRLIS) is a multi-year project that aims to develop evidence-based interventions to improve cultural competence in LIS research. Specifically, the project focuses on how cultural competence can be applied to both research team development and the research process itself. Two key questions guide the work: How do LIS researchers incorporate cultural competence into team formation and throughout research activities? What criteria do researchers recommend for conducting culturally competent research? This presentation will share initial findings and updates on the ongoing project, which begins in Spring 2025 and continues through 2027. The research engages Library and Information Science practitioners, funded scholars, and research partners—positioning them not only as participants but as co-contributors in shaping each phase. By prioritizing inclusion, CCRLIS intentionally builds a culture of belonging in research practice, ensuring that diverse perspectives are actively sought and valued. The project emphasizes that no single voice represents an entire community and that inclusive research processes require collaborative participation across diverse identities and roles. The research draws on insights from two key library communities—the American Library Association’s Library Research Round Table (ALA LRRT) and the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE)—through surveys and semi-structured interviews. Initial results will contribute to a draft framework for culturally competent research. Attendees will be invited to provide feedback, reflecting the inclusive and participatory nature of the project. Cultural competence in research is defined here as the capacity of research teams to produce rigorous, ethical research that considers and respects the cultural identities and contexts of the populations studied. This requires intercultural competency—the ability to engage effectively and appropriately across diverse cultural settings. The LIS field has long focused on multiculturalism and diversity in services, but less on embedding intercultural awareness into the research process itself. Phase two
(2026) will engage cultural experts to refine the framework and develop a course for researchers. This session provides an opportunity to explore how interculturalism and inclusion can transform LIS research into a more equitable, reflexive, and socially responsive practice.

Presenters: Dr. Michele A. L. Villagran and Kristie Barlas
Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025
Time: 1:45 pm – 2:45 pm (Pacific Time)
Location: Embassy Suites by Hilton, Portland Oregon