Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility

Resources

Honoring Native Peoples and Lands

Every community owes its existence and strength to the generations before them, around the world, who contributed their hopes, dreams, and energy into making the history that led to this moment. Truth and acknowledgment are critical in building mutual respect and connections across all barriers of heritage and difference.

So, we acknowledge the truth that is often buried: We are on the ancestral lands of the Piscataway People, who are the ancestral stewards of this sacred land. It is their historical responsibility to advocate for the four-legged, the winged, those that crawl and those that swim. They remind us that clean air and pristine waterways are essential to all life. 

This Land Acknowledgement is a vocal reminder for each of us as two-leggeds to ensure our physical environment is in better condition than what we inherited, for the health and prosperity of future generations. We also acknowledge that throughout our history, our university has not always lived up to our ideals of
diversity, equity and inclusion. Today we reaffirm our commitment to building and celebrating a multicultural community.

Please take a moment to consider these many legacies of bias, prejudice, violence, and settlement that bring us to where we are today.

To learn more about the Piscataway Conoy people and the lands that UMD inhabits, please explore the Native Americans in Maryland: A Resource Guide.

Definitions

Diversity is the psychological, physical, and social differences that exist among any and all individuals; including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, age, gender, sexual orientation, cognitive or physical ability, and learning styles.

An equitable environment is one of fair treatment, equal access, opportunity, and advancement. We strive to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented the full participation of all.

Inclusion is an environmental state, supported by actions, where any individual or group can be and feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued to fully participate. An inclusive and welcoming climate embraces and leverages differences for the good of the organization and offers respect in words and actions for all people.

The University of Maryland Libraries will support broader campus efforts to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive campus climate, understanding the unique, interdisciplinary focus of libraries and archives as collectors and curators of the historical, literary, artistic, and scientific record.

● We acknowledge the historical legacy of inequity and oppression for those of particular identities and expressions and commit to countering those experiences in our organizational mission.

● We do this by providing collections, services, and programs that reflect the diversity of our community, that heighten cultural awareness, and that reflect the histories, experiences, and expressions of those who have been historically marginalized and/or underrepresented.

● We will work to ensure equitable access to our facilities, resources, and services, and endeavor to improve our workforce by attracting and developing talented faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds.

● We will work to mitigate the barriers to inclusion that come from traditionally hierarchical organizational structures and sustain a culture that honors the contributions made to the mission of the university by all employees.