Commitment to Diversity and Anti-Racism

University Libraries recognizes and affirms the essential dignity of all people by honoring and celebrating diversity, fostering inclusion, and actively working toward equity and social justice for students, faculty, staff, and members of our broader community. We support Northern Illinois University's (NIU) commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging^[1] and endorse the American Library Association's core value of "[s]ocial responsibility and the public good."^[2]

University Libraries strives to build an anti-racist organization which acknowledges that libraries have engaged in the oppression of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), as well as other traditionally marginalized populations, and endeavors to dismantle broader systems of privilege and structures that uphold white supremacy in order to "co-create a community where all voices are heard, valued and respected."^[3]

Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion cannot simply be articulated in a statement; it must be demonstrated in an institution’s policies, practices, and culture.

University Libraries commits to actively work on dismantling oppressive systems. What follows is an accounting of work completed or in progress:

• Maintaining the Libraries' Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity (LDEI) Committee
  • Progress: Committee started in 2020, currently running with membership from across the libraries. In 2023, it was renamed Libraries' Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (LEDI) Committee to emphasize our ongoing commitment to equity. 
  • Implemented a rotating co-chair position in 2023 to foster shared power. 
• Recruiting and hiring marginalized faculty and staff  
  • Progress: A diversity statement for inclusion in job postings was presented to library administration in summer of 2023. The committee is completing a readiness assessment to address issues that impact hiring and retention of marginalized faculty and staff. 
• Reviewing library policies through the lens of oppression  
  • Progress: Building and use policies were reviewed by a special task force in 2021 and were presented to library administration in January 2022. Administration has begun the process of implementing the resulting recommendations, including policy changes. While the work of the policy review is complete, the policy updates are in progress. 
• Educating our faculty and staff regularly on DEI topics  
  • Progress: LDEI hosted two workshops in 2021 facilitated by ADEI and plans to continue with similar professional development in 2023-2024. 
• Maintaining and growing collections by BIPOC authors and authors from other traditionally marginalized groups.  
  • Progress: In 2021 the library is engaged in a pilot diversity audit and used a DEI weeding pass for certain areas of the VHS collections.  
  • In 2022-2023, collection funds were awarded to library faculty and staff and were used to diversify particular collections including: children’s books, the student success collection, Asian poetry, and more. 
  • A rubric that includes marginalized groups as priority factors was added to the Libraries' digital collection development policy. 
• Creating an inclusive environment through programming, exhibits, and inclusive marketing  
  • Progress: In 2021, the library hosted cultural programming by hosting the Mexican folk musical group Sones de México. 
  • In 2023, the library has continued to curate exhibits and displays that celebrate diversity including, but not limited to, displays for Hispanic Heritage Month, Native American Heritage Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, African American History Month, Women's History Month, Pride Month, and National Disability Independence Day. 
• Soliciting and responding to feedback from students, staff, faculty, and the community about issues related to DEI  
  • Progress: In 2021, developed the Libraries Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Committee Feedback Form. 
  • Increased student representation on the LEDI Committee by codifying and filling the student membership position in 2023.  
  • Created the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion LibGuide, last revised in 2023.

^{[1] FY 2022 University Goals https://www.niu.edu/president/_pdf/fy22-university-goals.pdf} 

^{[2] American Library Association Strategic Direction https://www.ala.org/aboutala/sites/ala.org.aboutala/files/content/governance/StrategicPlan/Strategic%20Directions%202017_Update.pdf}

^{[3] "Goal 4," AY 2021-22 (FY22) University Goals}