Conference of Quaker Historians and Archivists (CQHA): Code of Conduct

This Code of Conduct is meant to embody the Conference of Quaker Historians and Archivists’ (CQHA’s) ongoing commitment to being open, welcoming, and inclusive in its activities. It is inspired by the efforts of members of the library and archives community who have worked to codify language that can help us to sustain our collaborative undertakings.

How to Be

CQHA is dedicated to providing a conference experience that is free from all forms of harassment, and inclusive of all people. Small actions you can take will help us meet this goal. For instance, we suggest:

• listening as much as you speak, and remembering that colleagues may have expertise you are unaware of;
• encouraging and yielding the floor to those whose viewpoints may be under-represented in a group;
• using welcoming language, for instance by using an individual’s stated pronouns and favoring gender-neutral collective nouns (“people,” not “guys”);
• accepting critique graciously and offering it constructively;
• giving credit where it is due;
• seeking concrete ways to make physical and online spaces as well as online resources more universally accessible; and
• staying alert, as Active Bystanders, to the welfare of those around you.

Likewise, it is important to understand the range of behaviors that may constitute harassment.

Harassing behavior may relate to

• age;
• appearance or body size;
• employment or military status;
• ethnicity;
• gender identity or expression;
• individual lifestyles;
• marital status;
• national origin;
• language fluency or accent;
• physical or cognitive ability;
• political affiliation;
• sexual orientation;
• race; or
• religion.

Harassment can include unwelcome or offensive verbal or written comments or nonverbal expressions, used in person or online, in private or in public.

Examples of harassment can include:

• use of sexual and/or discriminatory images in public spaces (including online);
• deliberate intimidation;
• stalking;
• following;
• trolling;
• harassing photography or recording;
• sustained disruption of talks or other events;
• bullying behavior;
• inappropriate physical contact; and
• unwelcome sexual attention.

Sexual, discriminatory, or potentially triggering language and imagery is generally inappropriate for any CQHA venue. However, this policy is not intended to constrain responsible scholarly or professional discourse and debate. We welcome engagement with difficult topics, done with respect and care.

We value your presence and constructive participation in our shared community, and thank you for your attention to the comfort, safety, and well-being of fellow CQHA participants.

This Code of Conduct is adapted from the 2020 update of the Digital Library Federation (DLF) Code of Conduct.