Neurospicy Libraries: No. 1 Workplace Environment Report

Fitzpatrick, Joanne and Walsh, Andrew (2023) Neurospicy Libraries: No. 1 Workplace Environment Report. [Report]

Abstract

This report details the findings of the first survey conducted as part of the Neurospicy Libraries project. This project has involved several activities, one of which is surveying people within a peer support network of neurodivergent library employees across three different areas of difficulty in the workplace. This first survey and report focuses on the workplace environment in terms of physical issues that might impact on sensory sensitivities or physical disabilities associated with neurodivergency, but also navigating the unwritten rules of the social and cultural workplace environment. This was identified as the most important area of concern in an initial survey which asked about different potential areas of focus. The focus of these reports is not to go through a full objective research process with shared data, comprehensive literature reviews and systematic analysis. The approach is much more informal, and can be thought of as a collection of anonymous lived experiences that are communicated through the Neurospicy Project leads who are acting as ‘cover’ for the respondents who engaged. Participants would not necessarily disclose their neurodivergence publicly or even within a closed workplace, and even further than this would not submit responses of this nature to a formal research project even if anonymity was offered and prefer to offer information to grass roots, practicality focussed projects lead by peers only. Responses do however act as evidence to support communication from the Neurospicy Libraries project leads – this is not just us, this is the voice of many individuals working in libraries now who are struggling in private.