This Diversity & Inclusion ePortfolio (D&I-eP) was developed as part of my coursework for CIS 650: Applying Diversity Leadership Theories & Praxis during the Spring 2025 semester. In this portfolio, I analyze the current communication practices and information service responses of the User Services Division at Emory Libraries and Museum, based in Atlanta, Georgia. This section applies the Strategic Diversity Management Framework (Mehra & Davis, 2015) to critically assess a range of existing responses—including collections, services, programs, resources, policies, and best practices—to evaluate how effectively they promote equity, inclusiveness, representation, access, and information use for diverse stakeholder groups within this community-centered organizational context.
Table 1. Emory Libraries articulates a strategic vision for advancing diversity and inclusion through intentional collection development, resources that support diverse populations, student-led committees, and a dedicated DEI committee that advises senior leadership on related initiatives. However, these efforts are not always explicitly reflected in the strategic priorities of individual library units, such as User Services. This project seeks to address that gap by integrating diversity and inclusion into the core work of User Services.
Table 2: Emory Libraries has outlined a strategic vision for advancing diversity and inclusion through intentional collection development, targeted support for diverse populations, student engagement, and the guidance of a DEI committee that advises senior leadership. The following table presents evidence of these efforts and serves as a foundation for informing and guiding diversity and inclusion work within library sub-units, including the User Services Division.
Diversity, Inclusion, and Information Equity in Emory Libraries: A Critical Assessment
At Emory Libraries, the commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is deeply embedded in both policy and practice, aligning with the University’s broader values. In Cooke’s (2017) framework, the role of information sources and policies in shaping inclusive environments is central. Emory’s collections reflect this imperative through a deliberate strategy to build and maintain resources that highlight historically marginalized voices and diverse lived experiences (ALA, 2019). This strategy is consistent with Cooke’s emphasis on community-informed collection development, ensuring the library serves as both a reflection of and a resource for its diverse academic population.
The Emory Libraries DEI Committee, formed as part of organizational policy, illustrates Cooke’s concept of “communication policy and planning” (Cooke, 2017, Ch. 5). Through its Diversity Statement and ongoing assessment of inclusive collection practices, the Libraries model a dynamic planning process that not only acknowledges systemic inequities but actively works to dismantle them—evident in its alignment with the ALA’s Cultural Competency Standards (2015).Internal and external collaborations further amplify this work. By partnering with organizations like the Coalition for Diversity and Inclusion in Scholarly Communications (C4DISC), Emory Libraries acts on Cooke’s call for community connections that transcend institutional boundaries. These relationships support strategic collection building and reinforce inclusive scholarly communication (C4DISC, 2020). The Libraries’ investment in open access also exemplifies a structural response to global information disparities, fostering equitable access beyond the Emory campus.
In terms of service responses, Emory Libraries engage in inclusive reference and instruction services while centering user needs through continuous feedback and assessment. Strategic actions, such as grant-funded menstrual equity initiatives and inclusive signage, further reflect a nuanced understanding of how user services intersect with identity and belonging.
Conclusion
Diversity and inclusion are not peripheral to Emory Libraries’ success—they are fundamental metrics. As evidenced in the DEI Committee’s assessments, open access investments, and external partnerships, Emory Libraries move beyond performative inclusion to measurable, mission-aligned action. However, a critical lens reveals that deeper community co-creation—especially with underserved user groups—remains an area for continued growth. Nevertheless, the Libraries demonstrate a robust and evolving response to DEI, with strategic alignment to institutional goals and community impact.
References:
Cooke, N.A. (2017). Information Services to Diverse Populations: Developing Culturally Competent Library Professionals. Libraries Unlimited.
American Library Association. (2015). Cultural Competency Standards for Libraries.
American Library Association. (2019). Diverse Collections: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights.
C4DISC. (2020). Joint Statement of Principles. Coalition for Diversity and Inclusion in Scholarly Communications.
Emory Libraries are also engaged with internal responses to social justice issues through the 'Speak Up For Justice' campaign and exhibition, which allows community members to share their thoughts and visions about working toward social justice and anti-racism.
Emory Libraries on Diversity
Emory Libraries align with the University's statement on diversity which reads as follows:
The Emory community is open to all who have a commitment to the highest ideals of intellectual engagement, critical inquiry, and integrity. We welcome a diversity of gender identities, sexual orientations, abilities, and disabilities, as well as racial, ethnic, cultural, socioeconomic, religious, national, and international backgrounds, believing that the academic and social energy that results from such diversity is essential to advancing knowledge, addressing society’s most pressing issues, and attending to the full spectrum of human needs in service to the common good.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Annual Report
Emory Libraries’ Collections Diversity Statement
In Spring 2022, Emory Libraries approved the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee (DEI) Diversity Statement.
The libraries at Emory University commit to the building, maintenance, and assessment of collections that align with the teaching and research needs of Emory. These collections should represent and respect the diverse and multiple experiences of our ever-changing communities, as expressed in the ALA Cultural Competency Standards (Standard 4). As noted in Diverse Collections: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights, “a diverse collection should contain content by and about a wide array of people and cultures to authentically reflect a variety of ideas, information, stories, and experiences.”
Emory Libraries’ collections in all formats should address diversity of thought and experience and represent a wide range of perspectives and viewpoints. We acknowledge that intentional and deliberate attention to the values of social justice require frequent and continuous re-evaluation of this collection to ensure the inclusion of historically marginalized perspectives. We further realize that as stewards of the historical record, both scholarly and popular that we aspire to incorporate the input of those creators whose works we hold and the communities they represent. Finally, we recognize the need to provide an inclusive, equitable and accessible experience to our communities.
We recognize that contemporary collection building works within a broader political economy of information providers and consumers and often leads to inequities in information access. We strive to address the systemic inequities and hierarchies that have traditionally been part of academic library collecting. We embrace and support alternative methods, such as open access, that may run counter to this informational ecosystem.
We support and honor the mission of the university in embracing critical inquiry and engagement with our past, present, and future, both at Emory University and within the world around us. As librarians and academics, we provide an array of tools and offer guidance and expertise in understanding, disseminating, and contextualizing our collections.
Investments in External Open Access Initiatives
Equitable access to information for all humankind is a fundamental goal for libraries, and we at Emory Libraries are proud to showcase our investments in open access initiatives external to our campus. These initiatives help ensure that people from all parts of the globe can access the full text of published scholarly works, leading to faster, more effective responses to worldwide issues such as climate change, pandemics, and more.
Support for the Coalition for Diversity and Inclusion in Scholarly Communications
Emory Libraries has concrete plans and actions under way to demonstrate our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the work we do on our campus and in collaborative efforts that extend beyond our university. For example, leadership at Emory Libraries has responded to a call for support from the Coalition for Diversity and Inclusion in Scholarly Communications (a.k.a. C4DISC). This organization has a goal of increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the network of international professional organizations focused on or closely related to scholarly publishing. C4DISC members include the Association of University Presses, CrossRef, the North American Serials Interest Group, the Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association, the Society for Scholarly Publishing, and the UK Serials Group – all of whom represent suppliers of goods and services to academic libraries. Thus, if we want to provide more diverse collections to our users, we need to support C4DISC and its member organizations. Emory Libraries leadership and staff members are proud to join C4DISC as a Bronze-Level Partner and to adopt its Joint Statement of Principles.