Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Gordon Library is deeply committed to supporting WPI’s diverse population of students, faculty, and staff. We create opportunities for equal access and success for our communities. We strive to integrate diverse voices in our programs and services, including our collections, teaching, archives, digital services, research services, and community events and exhibits.

Why it Matters

Affirming the values of equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion is essential to Gordon Library as we work to create a welcoming space for all members of the WPI community. It is necessary to honor intersectional identities and diverse social and historical experiences expressed across our campus community. As part of the Library’s goal of responding to and anticipating WPI’s information needs, we seek to amplify marginalized and historically silenced voices.

What We’re Doing

  • We seek to deepen our understanding of how structural racism and systems of oppression operate within the Library and hold ourselves accountable for dismantling barriers to our spaces and services.
  • We practice cultural humility, which entails “a personal lifelong commitment to self-evaluation and self-critique, recognition of power dynamics and imbalances, a desire to fix those power imbalances and to develop partnerships with people and groups who advocate for others, institutional accountability.”+
  • We recognize that to create an inclusive library space and services, we must proactively partner and collaborate with others. We honor and seek out the expertise of campus and external partners in our commitment to continuous learning, reflection, and advocacy.
  • We strive to model and foster inclusive pedagogy in our teaching, technology offerings, and the learning objects we create and maintain.
  • We seek out diverse voices in research materials provided to users of the Library’s collections.
  • We recognize the reciprocal relationship between learning and well-being, and commit to offering the campus community spaces, services, and programs that are welcoming, inclusive, supportive and comfortable.
  • We are committed to ensuring equitable access to the library and our resources. We are mindful of accessibility standards and provide accommodations and services for persons with disabilities.
  • We aim to develop inclusive communications and marketing materials that holistically engage our communities.
  • We evolve our practices and policies as we learn new information. We pursue professional development opportunities to further our learning and share knowledge in our profession.

+Institute of Museum and Library Services. (2019). Module 8: Cultural Competence & Cultural humility. Project READY: Reimagining Equity & Access for Diverse Youth. https://ready.web.unc.edu/section-1-%20foundations/module-8/

 

Please share your viewpoint, concerns, criticisms, ideas, and suggestions with us. Let us know what is on your mind and how we can help you. To get in touch, contact us at library@wpi.edu. We will respond as quickly as possible. Thank you for your feedback and engagement.

Land Acknowledgement

 

The Library recognizes and shares WPI’s land acknowledgement.

 

WPI acknowledges the painful history of genocide in the U.S. for native and indigenous peoples. As a public statement that honors the indigenous people as native inhabitants on this land, WPI honors and respects the many and diverse tribal nations who were forcefully removed from their sacred lands.

 

WPI would like to recognize the people of the Chaubunagungamaug and Hassanamisco Nipmuc Tribe as the traditional custodians of the land on which we work. We take this moment to honor their elders, past, present, and emerging. WPI strongly advocates for higher education professionals to honor the land, the original tribal occupants, and the history of where they are located.

 

Thank you to the Diversity & Inclusive Excellence team for their work in crafting this acknowledgement.

 

The Gordon Library staff works together with the WPI community to learn and share the histories and experiences of Indigenous Peoples in our region and beyond through resources, events, and scholarship.

 

The official site of the Tribal Government and Citizens of Nipmuc Nation: https://www.nipmucnation.org/