Not Just Evidence-Based, But Experience-Based: Establishing a Neurodivergent Peer Support Network for Staff in the Library and Information Sector

Authors

  • Andrew Walsh Independent
  • Joanne Fitzpatrick Lancaster University image/svg+xml
  • Amelia Haire QA Higher Education

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33178/hslj.2.1.2

Keywords:

ADHD, Autism, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, neurodivergence, neurodiversity, peer support, library membership organisations, professional development

Abstract

A need for peer support for neurodivergent librarians, in line with the neurodiversity movement, was identified. This article describes this need and the establishment of the Neurodivergent Library and Information Staff Network (NLISN), from initial ideas as NeuroSpicy Libraries, to it’s more formal recreation as NLISN, along with a description of it’s current activities.

Author Biographies

  • Andrew Walsh, Independent

    Independent Researcher, National Teaching Fellow, Managing Editor of the Journal of Play in Adulthood, Co-Chair Playful Learning Association, Co-Chair NLISN

  • Joanne Fitzpatrick, Lancaster University

    Accessibility Manager for Copim/Open Book Futures at Lancaster University | Open Research librarian | Co-chair of NLISN.org | CILIP125 Emerging Leader

  • Amelia Haire, QA Higher Education

    Librarian at QA Higher Education, Secretary for NLISN.

References

American Psychiatric Association (2013) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).

Anderson, A. (2018). Employment and neurodiverse librarians. Informed Librarian Online, https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1082&context=stemps_fac_pubs

Ball, C., Fitzpatrick, J. & Walsh, A. (2025). Empowering Neurodivergent Staff, Learners and Researchers: The Library as a Partner in Success. UKSG 48th Annual Conference and Exhibition. Brighton. https://www.uksg.org/events/conference25/#programme

Camp, C., Finlay, J. (2025). The experiences of neurodivergent Library and Information Science [LIS] professionals working in academic libraries – a case study. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 51(5), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2025.103115

Eng, A. (2017). Neurodiversity in the Library: One Librarian’s Experience. In the Library with the Lead Pipe. https://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2017/neurodiversity-in-the-library/

Evans B. (2013). How autism became autism: The radical transformation of a central concept of child development in Britain. History of the human sciences, 26(3), 3–31. https://doi.org/10.1177/0952695113484320

Fitzpatrick, J. & Walsh, A. (2023a). Neurospicy Libraries: No. 1 Workplace Environment Report. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8202058

Fitzpatrick, J. & Walsh, A. (2023b). Neurospicy Libraries: No. 2 Workload Management Report. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8186023

Fitzpatrick, J. & Walsh, A. (2023c). Neurospicy Libraries: No. 3 Recruitment and Interviews Report. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8269342

Haire, A. (2025). What does it mean to be information literate for an autistic librarian in the academic library workplace? Journal of Information Literacy, 19(1), 27-47. https://doi.org/10.11645/19.1.723

Moeller, C.M. (2025). “Begging to be heard”: The Professional Exclusion and Marginalization of Neurodivergent Librarians, University of Washington. https://digital.lib.washington.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/7903d129-dab9-490f-813f-594535cc2e38/content

Ochsner, C. & Dinneen, J. (2025). Neurodivergence in academic libraries: A review of findings, recommendations, and remaining gaps in practice and research. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 77(1), 323–342. https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.70030

Stewart, G. & Happé, F. (2025). Aging Across the Autism Spectrum. Annual Review Developmental Psychology, 7, 461-484. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-devpsych-111323-090813

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Published

03-06-2026

Issue

Section

Practice-based articles

How to Cite

Walsh, A., Fitzpatrick, J., & Haire, A. (2026). Not Just Evidence-Based, But Experience-Based: Establishing a Neurodivergent Peer Support Network for Staff in the Library and Information Sector. Health Sciences Libraries Journal, 2(1), 2-8. https://doi.org/10.33178/hslj.2.1.2

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