The University of Florida is committed to creating a community that reflects the rich racial, cultural and ethnic diversity of the state and nation. Towards this end, the George A. Smathers Libraries at the University of Florida is committed to providing a welcoming and respectful environment for all library employees and users.
Mission
The mission of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice Committee is to promote intercultural understanding and acceptance among library users and library staff by educating, empowering, and creating self-awareness in the context of a global society. Leveraging the Libraries’ expertise, programs, collections, and services will foster an environment of inclusion and equality with fairness, appreciation for individual differences, and respect for all.
Please visit the DEIJ Libguide for news, resources & events.
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The UF Libraries’ Diversity Committee advances diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) in and through the George A. Smathers Libraries. Members are committed to the transformative power of DEIJ on values and norms within the Libraries and in the Libraries’ service to UF and its communities. The committee supports ensuring that these values are central to the Libraries’ culture, services, programs, and stewardship. The committee:
- Advocates for, advises on, supports, and initiates Libraries programs and processes to establish a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive environment for current and prospective students, employees, and the public.
- Identifies opportunities for the Libraries to address historical and current inequities in resources and services. Supports Libraries’ personnel who assess, implement, or sustain models that increase accessibility, representativeness, and accountability.
- Aligns the Libraries’ efforts with campus-wide initiatives through strategic partnerships to deliver effective initiatives that meet the diverse needs of students, employees, and community partners.
Through these activities, the committee supports the Libraries’ contributions towards a democratic society by broadening access to information resources with a focus on underserved populations, consistent with the values of the library profession and UF’s mission.
The Diversity Committee reports to the Libraries’ Assistant Dean of Assessment & Student Engagement. The committee membership is composed of Libraries’ employees and strives for representativeness across units and roles. The committee establishes its specific activities through an annual action plan submitted to and approved by Libraries’ administration, with an annual report documenting these activities and their outcomes.