Ohio University Libraries’ Commitment to Social Justice
June 9, 2020
Ohio University Libraries grieves with the OHIO and global communities over the brutal killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and other Black, Indigenous, and people of color. We embrace the Ohio University commitment to social justice and strongly affirm the recent Association of Research Libraries statement condemning racism and violence against Black communities. We stand in solidarity with the thousands who protest against police brutality and racism in its many forms.
Ohio University Libraries believes strongly that Black Lives Matter.
We acknowledge our responsibility, and that of all libraries, to further social justice by providing equitable access to information, facilitating the creation of new knowledge, and preserving our history so that we may continue to learn from it.
In that spirit, we commit to confronting and addressing the history of systemic bias and inequity in libraries and in librarianship, as demonstrated in our collections, spaces, services, and traditional recruitment practices. As the Libraries embarks on creating new strategic priorities, we also commit to imbuing diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout those priorities, recognizing that these are not aspects of our work: they are the heart of it.
All people, including Black, Indigenous, people of color, and LGBTQ people, are welcome at Ohio University Libraries. Our spaces, both physical and virtual, are places for people to connect not only with information, but with one another. The Libraries has the potential to connect people and ideas across disciplinary, community, and racial divides in unique and powerful ways. We recognize the need to embrace and amplify our role as connector and catalyst for change as we move forward.
We welcome all voices into the creation of the future of the Libraries. Please take a moment to share your thoughts on how the Libraries can better reflect the diverse needs of the University community as we build that future together.
Sincerely,