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HSCL Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Team

HSCL Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Team Charge (October 1, 2020)

Team Charge:

The Health Science Center Libraries Diversity and Inclusion Team strives to develop the library’s climate for our diverse patrons and employees. The Team promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and justice initiatives within the HSCL and beyond to foster safe and welcoming spaces for all students, staff, faculty, and community members.

Team Goals and Objectives:

Assess and identify diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and justice opportunities within the HSCL spaces, including our online spaces, and apply assessment findings in order to enhance HSCL’s efforts around DEIAJ.
Implementing diversity, equity, accessibility, and justice related trainings and workshops.
Actively promote diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and justice amongst the HSCL staff and faculty, and the overall UF and Gainesville community.
Align HSCL diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and justice efforts to broader efforts across the Smathers Libraries, UF Health, UF, and our professional communities.

Composition:

Chair serving a two-year term
A minimum of 3 members from staff and faculty serving two-year terms

Inclusion and Intellectual Freedom

UF George A. Smathers Libraries Inclusion & Intellectual Freedom Statement

Inclusion Statement:

The George A. Smathers Libraries support intellectual freedom, freedom of speech and the open exchange of ideas and opinions that support the community building, learning and research efforts of the University of Florida. The Libraries welcome all members of our community, regardless of their race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, veteran status, ancestry, national or ethnic origin, or citizenship status.

Intellectual Freedom Statement:

The Libraries are committed to protecting and advancing intellectual freedom, as an important set of rights. Intellectual freedom includes the right to access the widest diversity of views and expressions, including those that are unorthodox, unpopular, or considered dangerous. When intellectual freedom exists, these views and expressions are accessible without the necessity of endorsement by other individuals, groups or institutions, and without the imposition of political, moral, or aesthetic views of another individual, group or institution. Intellectual freedom includes the right to free expression, where an individual or group may fully engage in the quality and diversity of thought and expression, and develop their own views and expressions without being coerced and/or inhibited. The right to privacy is essential for intellectual freedom.