Our commitment to diversity & inclusivity

At the University of Arizona Libraries, we welcome everyone and every perspective—those that challenge us, motivate us to learn, and broaden our worldview. Diversity is one our five core values, and we're proud to have been in the forefront of diversity and inclusivity efforts on campus for several years. We're committed to doing our part every day. 

We strive to ensure:

• students, scholars, and staff have equitable access to library resources
• our recruitment and hiring practices are inclusive and attract candidates that reflect the diversity of our community
• library employees have equal access for advancement
• our collections and services reflect the breadth of human experience from many orientations

Diversity, Social Justice and Equity Council

Established in the summer of 2016, the Diversity, Social Justice and Equity Council (DSJEC) is charged with developing a sustainable and holistic approach to advancing diversity and inclusion for the Libraries through internal programming and assessment, advisement to leadership, and campus and community outreach. 

In its first year, DSJEC launched a number of initiatives and trainings, including:

• Hosted workshops on implicit bias, allyship, and inclusive leadership
• Participated in campus inclusive excellence efforts
• Completed an inventory of diversity at the Libraries as part of a larger assessment by the UA Office of Diversity and Inclusive Excellence
• Developed a guide of diversity and inclusion support resources for UA students and faculty

In 2018, these and other achievements implemented by the first two cohorts of DSJEC were recognized when the University Libraries received the Diversity and Inclusion Award from the Society for Human Resource Management of Greater Tucson at its Celebrating Innovation in the Workplace ceremony. That same year, the University of Arizona earned the designation of Hispanic Serving Institution from the U.S. Department of Education in 2018 for its success in the enrollment of Hispanic students and in providing educational opportunities to them.

Resources

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Guides

Diversity and inclusion at the University of Arizona

Accessibility services in the library

Inclusive and accessible design presentation series materials

A message on anti-racism and our way forward

June 25, 2020
The recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and Rayshard Brooks are stark illustrations of the long-standing racism, injustice, and inequity that shape our history and our daily lives. The protests that erupted in the wake of George Floyd’s murder by members of the Minneapolis Police Department are a response to years of systemic racism enacted against people of color. For everyone who is hurting and exhausted and angry, we unequivocally stand with you. We affirm that Black Lives Matter. But it is not enough to condemn racism. We need to do our part every day to build an organization that helps shape the future by actively rejecting the legacy of white supremacy. 

The University of Arizona Libraries Dean’s Working Group, Cabinet, and the Diversity, Social Justice, and Equity Council (DSJEC) commit to working together with colleagues across the Libraries to examine this legacy and its impact on our organization and profession. We will develop an explicitly anti-racist plan to counteract the systems of oppression that undermine our mission and values. This commitment is essential to the effective and equitable operation of our libraries within a land-grant institution that is profoundly enriched by the diversity of people who comprise our university. We look forward to engaging with the campus community in these efforts.

To ensure transparency and accountability, Cabinet will partner with DSJEC and Dean’s Working Group to produce a plan documenting our organizational commitments and approach in the coming months. To develop the plan, we will engage with library departments and shared governance groups to establish a concrete set of anti-racist actions. More immediately, DSJEC continues to organize roundtable discussions on racial justice and equity, identify formal training opportunities with external experts on anti-racist education and actions, and advocate for organizational change.

More details will be released as the specifics of this plan are established. 

Shan C. Sutton
Dean of University Libraries
Katheryne B. Willock Endowed Chair

Megan Senseney
Co-Chair, Diversity, Social Justice, and Equity Council
Head, Office of Digital Innovation and Stewardship

In consultation with members of the University of Arizona Libraries Dean’s Working Group, Cabinet, and the Diversity, Social Justice, and Equity Council