Opportunity & Access for All

USU Libraries embraces USU's Principles of Community. In putting these principles into practice, we commit to actively developing a culture that supports opportunity and access for all campus community members.

Our Values:

  • We believe that expanding opportunity, engagement, and accessibility enhances library services for all.
  • We believe positive change requires vulnerability, continual learning, and the ongoing improvement of our services and policies.
  • We believe in holding ourselves accountable for positive change.

USU Libraries is committed to fulfilling our mission to support “inquiry, discovery, and engagement” by investigating and overcoming barriers that prevent individuals from fully participating in the learning and research process.

Our Commitments:

  • We will work to ensure library resources and services are accessible and representative.
  • We will cultivate welcoming library spaces.
  • We will embrace recruiting strategies that increase opportunity and support all faculty and staff, regardless of background, experience, or viewpoint.

We acknowledge that broadening opportunity and inclusion of all campus community members will not happen overnight, nor can it effectively take place without a variety of voices and perspectives. The USU Libraries are committed to continuous service improvement.

Acknowledgements: This statement draws on work done by the USU Aggies Think Care Act, the Association of College and Research Libraries, the efforts and input of the USU Libraries faculty and staff along with other institutional models.

Values in Action: 2023-2024

Review of USU open educational resource projects for accessibility improvements.

Universal Design for Learning professional development opportunity for instructors.

Creation of year-round heritage month displays for the LLC at USU Eastern.

Re-opening of the library's family room to a new more prominent location to support students with children.

History Department course integration with Special Collections and Archives on Title IX and the USU women's volleyball and basketball program.

Partnership with Center for Intersectional Gender Studies and Research on LibGuides.

Taggert Student Center tabling in celebration of Juneteenth

Ongoing work on harmful language statements for our bibliographic and archival records.

Trained two Blanding participants in the NASMP 2023 group.

Inclusive Excellence Learning Circle Committee Charge

Definition

Learning circles are characterized by their flexibility and emphasis on peer-learning. The Inclusive Excellence Learning Circle Steering Committee will actively seek out feedback and participation from USU Library staff throughout the implementation of this charge.

Charge

Guide USU Libraries in developing a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive environment characterized by equal access and equitable participation for all USU students, employees, and the general public. Learning circle members will collaboratively develop discussion, learning content, and action items that are relevant and meaningful to current USU Libraries and broader University needs. The Inclusive Excellence Learning Circle Steering Committee will assist with the following:

  • Advise USU Library Administration as needed on issues and targeted projects related to expanding access and engagement with library programming and resources.
  • Provide training and learning opportunities for library staff at all levels. Specifically, the group is charged with holding two events per year).
  • Initiate, support, and share the work of smaller groups engaged with community engagement across library units and facilitate an annual USU Libraries Community Engagement Forum.
  • Align the Library’s inclusive excellence and community engagement work with that of the broader University by collaborating with campus groups and ensuring that information about their work and other university initiatives is communicated to all Library staff
  • Model methods for engaging in discussion of inclusive excellence topics and issues, and foster a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive environment.

In facilitating this work, potential collaborators could include but should not be limited to: the USU Libraries Staff Development and Engagement Committee, the Center for Teaching Excellence, the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice, the Center for Intersectional Gender Studies, and the Civil Rights & Title IX Office.

Budget

$2,500 annually.

Membership

A group of 5-7 individuals from across the library and staff levels will be selected each year to serve as the Learning Circle’s Steering Committee on staggered 2-year terms. One steering committee member will be selected to serve as the convenor of meetings and liaison to USU Libraries administration.

Learning Circle Steering Committee FY23

Lexy Gonzalez, USU Price LLC

Rachel Lawyer, Student Success & User Experience

Kelly Rovegno, Special Collections & Archives

Steph Western, Collections Strategies

Jennifer Duncan, Library Admin Liaison (permanent member)