Diversity Statement

As a Hispanic-Serving Institution¹ located on the traditional lands of the indigenous Kumeyaay people², San Diego State University Library is deeply committed to supporting our diverse population of students, faculty, and staff. We are an organization of information professionals dedicated to empowering others to access, interpret, and create knowledge that encourages evidence-based analysis and respectful scholarly debate.

We do this by intentionally developing a vibrant collection of print and electronic resources and unique special collections that reflect the diversity of SDSU. Our collection spans a spectrum of scholarly perspectives and disciplines. Per the American Libraries Association’s Library Bill of Rights, we support intellectual freedom within an environment of academic freedom and neither censor nor limit access to information while protecting the privacy of our users.

We develop comprehensive services that contribute to student success, including information literacy instruction, student research engagement, providing access to affordable educational materials, ensuring accessibility across a range of abilities, and providing the technologies necessary for student retention and persistence. We strive to support the success of the whole student both in and out of the classroom by creating programming and spaces that support student wellness and promote lifelong learning.

We collaborate with faculty to fulfill SDSU’s teaching and research missions. We emphasize the importance of information literacy and provide faculty with the support structures necessary to advance their curricular and research agendas.

We strive to make the library welcoming and accessible to everyone, including members of the public. We intentionally create physical and virtual environments that provide a sense of belonging for all, from the people who greet our community members, to our graphics, informational messages, artwork, furnishings, and facilities.

We believe that the library is the heart of the university, and we work tirelessly to make sure the SDSU Library continues to be a site which celebrates our strength, our diversity, and our fundamental commitment to free expression.

Footnotes

[1] “Hispanic-Serving Institution” is a federal designation based on a 25% threshold population of Hispanic students: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/idues/hsidivision.html. SDSU received HSI designation in 2012: https://universe.sdsu.edu/sdsu_newscenter/news_story.aspx?sid=73530.

[2] SDSU Land Acknowledgement: https://sacd.sdsu.edu/diversity-resources/land-acknowledgment.