Believe in Your S(h)elf: An Autoethnographic Study of a Library Professional with an Appearance Difference

Background and Aims: Academic Libraries are spaces defined by visibility, approachability, and support. For library professionals with an appearance difference, user-facing roles introduce additional emotional and social complexities. This study examines the impact of living with an appearance difference on professional identity and experience, focusing on the lived experience of an Irish woman with craniofrontonasal dysplasia. It explores how gender, visibility, and cultural context shape belonging in the workplace.

Methods: An autoethnographic approach was employed, integrating autobiographical narratives, critical self-analysis, and relevant literature on professional identity, appearance difference, and inclusion. This method situates personal experience within broader institutional and cultural frameworks, enabling exploration of both challenges and affirming aspects of visibility in user-facing professional roles.

Findings: Personal and professional identities were deeply intertwined for individuals living with an appearance difference. Managing visibility in daily work involved navigating public interactions and others’ perceptions, while developing belonging and coping with the emotional demands of user-facing roles were ongoing challenges. Advocacy and representation emerged as key aspects of practice, with lived experience leveraged to raise awareness and foster inclusion. Open, reflective dialogue helped integrate personal and professional identities, with visibility experienced both as a source of vulnerability and as a foundation for empowerment.

Discussion: This study argues that lived experience can inform institutional empathy, inclusive practice, and professional identity, reframing visibility as a strength rather than a limitation. The poster highlights how reflective practice and advocacy can contribute to more inclusive, supportive higher education environments for staff and users alike.