Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility

UW Libraries Values Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

In full support and in partnership with UW's Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, UW Libraries value the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). As a library, we have the duty to uphold equal access to intellectual and creative exploration. Creating an environment that values and promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility requires action, advocacy, education, and engagement.  

We commit to serving our community and actively work to ensure that the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility influence all aspects of our work, including as it relates to our:  

Collections: We remain committed to promoting equity in our collections by highlighting and promoting stories and histories produced by authors who belong to historically marginalized groups. Additionally, we strive to build collections that represent a wide range of perspectives on current and historical issues. We work to ensure equity in access to information, supporting initiatives that make information more open and accessible.   
Teaching & Instruction: We encourage, support, and promote inclusive instruction and teaching practices, including the incorporation of accessibility and universal design, equitable access to teaching and learning materials, and open-access pedagogy. 
Facilities & Programs: Physical and virtual library spaces and programs must be accessible, welcoming, affirming, and safe to all. We actively seek to incorporate universal design in our approach to our spaces, instruction, and programs.  
People: We strive to create a culture of inclusivity in our hiring practices by fostering a welcoming environment for prospective candidates and work to recruit and retain team members from historically underrepresented and diverse backgrounds. We provide DEIA-focused professional and educational development to enhance cultural competency among libraries employees.

Aspen trees turning yellow during fall on the University of Wyoming campus

UW Libraries affirms and supports the Associated Students of UW Land Acknowledgement

We collectively acknowledge that the University of Wyoming occupies the ancestral and traditional lands of the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Crow, and Shoshone Indigenous peoples along with other Native tribes who call the Great Basin and Rocky Mountain region home. We recognize, support, and advocate alongside Indigenous individuals and communities who live here now, and with those forcibly removed from their Homelands.

ASUW Senate Bill #2699 (PDF), April 14, 2020

Accessibility

UW Libraries is committed to making our services, facilities, and collections accessible and safe to all UW students, faculty, staff, and visiting researchers. Where spaces or resources present barriers, library employees are available to assist with reasonable requests. If you have concerns about the accessibility of library services or spaces, the help desk can direct you to the appropriate person to receive and address your concerns.

Libraries Accessibility Information

UW Accessibility Resources

Employment with UW Libraries

The University of Wyoming is an affirmative action/equal opportunity educator and employer. UW Libraries is committed to building a culturally diverse workplace and strongly encourages applications from minority candidates, candidates with disabilities, and those with experience working in a multicultural environment.

Interested in working for UW Libraries?

View UW Employment Opportunities DEI Campus Resources

UW Libraries is a proud member of the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) Diversity Alliance. The program unites academic libraries committed to increasing the hiring pipeline of qualified and talented individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. Please visit the ACRL website for more information.

Teaching & Research
Visit our Research Guides for information and resources to help you in your research in anti-oppression, culture, race, ethnicity, gender, accessibility, and other topics in the field of diversity.
Browse our diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility resources by subject and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility guide.
Access & Collections
UW Libraries initiatives that support fairness and universal access to information, and combat economic barriers and the digital divide.
- Bluebird/Pronunciator (Language Learning) - in partnership with Wyoming state and county libraries, we provide access to language learning programs free to UW community members and Wyoming residents.
- Digital Newspapers - UW faculty, staff, and students can access several printed and digital newspapers.
- Open Access Initiatives - open access publishing initiatives and academic publications that are free to read and can have various re-use rights.
- Open Educational Resources - UW Libraries provides support and grants to faculty who wish to transition to no-cost alternatives that support teaching, learning, and research.
- Popular Reading and other e-content - in partnership with all Wyoming community colleges, state, county libraries we are able to offer Libby and OverDrive to all UW community members and Wyoming residents.
- Wyoming Digital Newspaper Collection - a partnership with the Wyoming State Library to make historical Wyoming newspapers digitally accessible.
- WyoScholar - our open access institutional repository and other open educational resources, publications, etc.
Public access computers are available for library research at Coe Library and the Geology Library. These computers allow Internet access to library databases and electronic subscriptions.
Resources
On-campus efforts to support diversity, equity, and inclusion:
Local, state, and other resources:

Definitions

The full array of individual differences we all have in regards to ability, age, country of origin, culture, economic class, ethnicity, gender identity, immigration status, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, worldview, and other ways we may be unique but also similar to one another. Diversity includes everyone to facilitate the expansion of a welcoming and nurturing environment for discovery, inquiry, and learning that enriches UW’s academic environment.

Source: ODEI Strategic Plan (PDF)

Creating opportunities and ongoing support for historically marginalized or underrepresented populations (racial/ethnic minorities, women, persons with disabilities, etc.) to have access to and participate in opportunities in the classroom, employment, and other university programs and activities that can close the achievement, economic, and overall success gaps among diverse groups.

Source: ODEI Strategic Plan (PDF)

Ongoing engagement and support to address the campus climate and culture to create and maintain an environment where diverse, marginalized, and underrepresented populations feel welcome as active participants in the campus community. This engagement and support includes the curricular and co-curricular education, employment, as well as university programs, academic units, and activities in the surrounding community.

Source: ODEI Strategic Plan (PDF)

Diversity, equity, and inclusion include a combination of experiences and identities, please visit our research guide for more information on definitions and language.

UW Libraries Diversity Council

In response to a series of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Discussions led by the Dean of Libraries in the fall of 2020, UW Libraries established a Diversity Council in January 2021. The council is charged with making recommendations to the Dean on diversity issues within the Libraries. The council’s recommendations may include activities that support and advance diversity issues and concerns, new ways to promote diversity within UW Libraries, and suggestions for making our organization more welcoming and supportive of persons within or connected to diverse communities.