DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY IN INFORMATION SCIENCE

Abstract

Structural inequalities and social exclusion have intensified discussions on the principles of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) across different fields, including Library and Information Science. Given that this field is concerned with the access, organization, and dissemination of information, this study aims to analyze the scientific literature on DEIA principles within Library and Information Science. This descriptive study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative methods, and employs bibliographic research procedures. Data were collected in May 2026 from the Library, Information Science and Technology Abstracts (LISTA) and Information Science Databases, without prior temporal restrictions. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a final corpus of 52 documents was obtained. The results indicate that publications addressing DEIA principles in the field emerged in 2019 and have increased steadily since 2022. Journal articles published in English and originating primarily from the United States and the United Kingdom predominate, highlighting the central role of the Global North in these discussions. In Brazil, only three publications were identified, revealing a significant research gap. The most frequently addressed topics include diversity and inclusion policies, university libraries, librarianship, and social justice. The study concludes that although scholarly production on DEIA principles is growing, it remains limited, particularly in the Brazilian context and within the domain of scientific communication.