From coloring the academic landscape to integral players of the community: Underrepresented minority librarians flexing their service muscles

Despite the many existing efforts to recruit and retain a diverse workforce, the library field has remained disproportionally white. Instead of waiting for the system to change, underrepresented minority librarians can take a number of steps within their institutions to effect positive changes on predominantly white campuses. Using two mid-career librarians' experiences serving on their institution's diversity committee and as academic advisors and mentors to students, including international students and first-generation students, this article illustrates ways through which minority librarians can exert leadership and leverage their multitudinous identities, interests, and passions to make a difference.