Embedding Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion into the Academic Library – Have Students’ Requests for Diverse Content Been Met?

Abstract

Following efforts to diversify and decolonize University curricula, Oxford Brookes University student union reported that Black and BIPOC students wanted more diverse content. In response, the Library set up a group to embed Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion practices into collection development, teaching, and administrative and research support practices. Initiatives entailed book purchases of authors from historically marginalized backgrounds, curation of diversity reading lists, updating subject headings to reflect modern terminology, and promotion of Read & Publish agreements. Currently, we have been unsuccessful in determining if the requests of students for diverse content have been met. Further research would seek to explore this area.