Diversity

UNL Libraries are academic leaders in valuing diversity in the workplace and in meeting the needs of the university's goal to welcome a "diversity of ideas and people" in Nebraska and globally.
Our Mission Statement is:

"UNL Libraries values diversity and empowers our staff to take active responsibility in developing a supportive diverse environment. We will use our talents, expertise, collections and services to coordinate with UNL's effort to embrace diversity" (University of Nebraska–Lincoln University Libraries, 2008).

The Diversity Librarian works closely with the Multicultural Studies Librarian and other UNL faculty and staff to support the Institute for Ethnic Studies programs, Women and Gender Studies, including LGBTQ/Sexuality Studies and other related areas of research. In addition, we strive to support and fulfill the information needs of UNL community members engaged in multicultural and diversity research.

Proactive support for diversity is integrated into the operational fabric of UNL Libraries through our strategic plan priorities and through the university's core values. This web page provides the links to diversity related programs, services, digital collections, physical resources and library committees.

These are the key library groups and strategic plans and reports that focus on diversity and workplace climate issues.

Strategic Planning Documents

Related

Commonly used e-resources

Other collections and resources:

Diversity Research

Documents

Websites

Defining Diversity

"Diversity means many different relationships, many different approaches to the same problem. A diverse community is a resilient community, capable of adapting easily to changing situations. (more…)Accordingly, eco-management includes the conscious effort to include representatives from different interest groups, contradictory tendencies, different cultural backgrounds, etc., in the process of reflection and decision making….. All living systems develop, and all development is learning. Therefore a sustainable community is always a learning community; a community which continually changes, develops, and learns."

(Capra, Fritjof, "Sustainable Communities: A Management Challenge", Building Learning Organizations Conference handbook, 1994, p. 46)

"They came to realize that the Land of Opportunity is more than a place…It is a state of mind

The Land of Opportunity is an attitude. It is

An openness to new ideas,

A willingness to listen

An eagerness to learn, a desire to grow, and the flexibility to change (more…). The Land of opportunity is a new way of dealing with one another. It becomes a reality when we stop judging each other by superficial criteria and begin to see and appreciate everyone as uniquely talented, capable, and valuable.

The Land of Opportunity is where we live and work when we choose to see with new eyes, live from our hearts, and allow ourselves and other to be what we truly are… ourselves."

Excerpt from the book, Hateley, B.J. A Peacock in the Land of Penguins, San Francisco: Berrett-Hoehler, pp. 104-107. 1997

“A wise institution understands that in order to maintain a high standard, every element of the university must be able to reach its full potential. Every person in every department must be able to feel a part of the community and contribute in their own way. To undertake a diversity education program is to commit to a process which changes lives, not just at work, but in nearly every area of a person’s life. Moreover, this process enables an organization to see its mission as inextricably linked to the goal of providing the highest quality service for the greatest number of people.”

Finding Common Ground –John Harris, Harris Consulting Services