Diversity & Inclusion

The University of Louisville Libraries’ Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group (DIAG) is the advising and advocacy body to University Libraries and its administration on all issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. DIAG is committed to ensuring that the entire University Libraries unit celebrates diversity, fosters equity, and strives for inclusion for all students, employees, and community members.

DIAG supports the University of Louisville’s commitment to achieving preeminence as a premier anti-racist metropolitan research university and follows the Cardinal Principles, which promote our commitment to each other and to our community.

We believe that when University Libraries consistently strives for diversity, prioritizes equity, and embraces inclusion, we will be recognized as a great place to learn, work, research, and invest.

Some recent initiatives from DIAG and the University Libraries that align with our goals and framework include: 

Employee Diversity & Development

• Created a new Director of DEI initiatives to help provide continuity, oversight, and coordination of our activities
• Enhanced the Diversity Residency program to focus on strategic library priorities and improve the resident experience and hired for the position
• Implemented DEI best practices to improve faculty recruitment
• Provided training for web developers on ADA requirements 

University Libraries’ Climate, Inclusiveness, and Cultural Competency

• Conducted equity walks of Archives & Special Collections, Bridwell Art Library, Ekstrom Library, Kornhauser Library, and Music Library

Collection Development

• Purchased anti-racism materials and diversity collections across all libraries
• Prioritized processing collections from historically marginalized groups in Archives and Special Collections, such as records of the Kentucky Fairness Campaign, and created a graduate research position to process the Jan Carew papers 
• Highlighted publications by BIPOC UofL faculty and staff in The Collective: A BIPOC ThinkIR Initiative

Outreach & Programming

• Featured in-person, virtual book displays, and exhibits that celebrate diversity in various libraries
• Collaborated with the university and community to create Uncovering Racial Logistics: Louisville's History of Racial Oppression and Activism
• Hosted the annual African American Read-in during Black History Month with CODRE and the English department
• Hosted a virtual Diversity in Healthcare Forum with clinical, community, and librarian experts at the Kornhauser Health Sciences Library
• Hosted the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Symposium with the College of Business and IEEE

Disability, Gender & Sexuality, and Race and Ethnicity icons were created in Canva for the UofL Libraries. Religion icon created by noomtah - Flaticon. Book icon created by Smashicons - Flaticon. Top banner created in Adobe Illustrator for the UofL libraries.