DEIA and the Library's Strategic Plan

DEIA and the Library's Strategic Plan

In designing the William H. Hannon Library’s 2021-2026 Unit Level Strategic Plan, library leadership, in collaboration with staff, intentionally distributed goals and actions related to DEIA across the organization, services, collections, and programs throughout the plan rather than dedicating a specific goal to this work. 

Following are the goals, and progress, through May 31, 2024. This site will be updated once annually. 

Objective 1.1: Enhance information literacy instruction, building upon an existing landscape of instruction delivery modalities, to support student research and lifelong learning. 

• Action 1.1.1: Directly integrate DEIA practices into information literacy instruction to enhance students’ critical information literacy skills.  

Objective 1.2: Develop innovative programming that supports students’ co-curricular needs and sense of belonging.  

• Action 1.2.1: Expand and enhance programming that reduces library anxiety and sense of belonging.  

Objective 2.3: Increase the accessibility and affordability of an LMU education through the library’s open and affordable initiatives. 

• Action 2.3.1: Increase campus awareness of and adoption of open educational resources through outreach and programming. 

• Action 2.3.2: Enhance library structures and practices to better support the use, reuse, and creation of open educational resources. 

• Action 2.3.3: Assess and communicate the impact of the library’s open and affordable initiatives, using evidence-based practices.  

• Action 2.3.4: Lead the Open Textbook Pilot Dept of Education grant – OER for Social Justice.
  

Objective 3.3: Increase accessibility to and visibility of collections related to underrepresented groups.  

• Action 3.3.1: Analyze and implement anti-racist and other inclusive description practices in metadata across all LMU library collections.  

• Action 3.3.2: Improve finding aid accessibility practices. 

Objective 4.2: Expand the library’s capacity for creating, preserving, and providing access to LMU Digital Collections.  

Objective 4.3: Codify library practices integrating principles of diversity, equity, inclusiveness, anti-racism, and accessibility in collection development and acquisitions work, and explore avenues for continued growth in this area.  

• Action 4.3.1: Conduct targeted review of collection areas for DEIA in order to revise collection development policies and mitigate deficiencies.  

• Action 4.3.2: Train liaisons on best practices for building a diverse collection in their disciplines.  

Objective 4.5: Review, re-establish and implement collecting and processing priorities for the University Archives and other special collections to enhance support of evolving curricula and research needs.  

• Action 4.5.1: Survey the archival collections to identify gaps particularly in areas supporting anti-racism and inclusivity. 

Objective 5.2: Improve the accessibility and inclusiveness of library services and spaces.  

• Action 5.2.1: Review and implement the recommendations of the 2020 Library Accessibility Taskforce report.  

• Action 5.2.2: Assess the needs of disabled community members, and identify opportunities for new service models and space accommodations.  

• Action 5.2.3: Assess library services and library spaces (online and in-person) through a DEIA lens.  

• Action 5.2.4: Provide accessibility and DEIA best practices training to all staff.  

Objective 6.1: Ensure that the library is following best practices for mission-driven, inclusive recruitment and retention of a diverse workforce.  

• Action 6.1.1: Identify resources for best practices to integrate DEIA into recruitment processes. 

• Action 6.1.2: Assess, standardize, update, and communicate internal guidelines for hiring librarians and staff (including recruitment, grievances, and exit procedures).  

• Action 6.1.3: Document and communicate expectations for recurring library-wide events, major decisionmaking, and performance expectations.  

Objective 6.2: Enhance support structures to foster staff success and improve work climate.  

• Action 6.2.1: Assess and standardize onboarding structures for all staff.  

• Action 6.2.2: Develop an amelioration plan based on the outcomes of the library’s 2021 ClimateQUAL survey. 

• Action 6.2.3: Expand professional development and mentorship support for all staff.  

• Action 6.2.5: Close the loop on remaining action items from 2020 DEI Task Force recommendations to Management Council. 

• Action 6.2.6: Create programs to increase communication and build relationships between library staff and departments.  

• Action 6.2.7: Use targeted assessment to explore ways to improve staff experience, equity, and provide adequate support systems for new and experienced staff.