This talk draws on Naomi Baudelaire Smith's Substack article “Don’t Touch My Hair in the Library”, based on qualitative research conducted during her time as an academic librarian, to explore how hair microaggressions shape the experiences of Black female librarians within academic libraries.

Naomi Baudelaire Smith is a former Fashion and Global Black Studies academic librarian who, despite being read through the lens of light-skin privilege, experienced ongoing microaggressions that ultimately led her to leave the profession in 2025.

She is now an award-winning Social Entrepreneur, recognised as a Top 50 Voice of 2026 by Divas of Colour, and makes critical ideas accessible through community workshops and events, creative consultancy and social media. 

More of her work can be found at DIE4ART and her Linktree.