Working Toward Racial Justice: Duke Libraries commits to prioritizing the history of Black people

Toward Racial Justice

Duke Libraries commits to prioritizing the history of Black people

Last April, the Duke their courses are under way. University Libraries Staff will dedicate space to released findings from Black scholarship and develop a study of how Black an orientation for library students experience the security guards to foster libraries. positive relationships.

The responses showed “The approach we take that, while the libraries were is that by improving spaces viewed positively, elements and services for firstleft some Black students generation college students feeling like the essential piece or Black students, we are of Duke wasn’t fully theirs. making things better for all

Just weeks later, as library staff students,” said Emily Daly, planned next steps from the head of Assessment and study, the police killings of User Experience.

Black citizens George Floyd and Breonna Taylor ignited a Duke University Libraries has embraced the mission of making spaces, such as the Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library’s Gothic Reading Room, more welcoming to all. Photo courtesy of University Communications. Also, a research project by Duke University Archives will nationwide dialogue on racism. investigate how slavery shaped

“After that, there was a Duke’s history. University different kind of urgency,” said Associate University Librarian Archivist Valerie Gillispie took the step last fall of updating the

Dracine Hodges. heavily-read university history page to include more information

Facing national events and findings from the Black student on Duke’s racial history on the libraries’ website. study, Duke University Libraries staff members threw themselves And at the Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library, into developing a “Racial Justice Roadmap” for recruitment work continues on an audit of collection descriptions aimed and retention, inclusive library spaces, collections, research and at finding and fixing descriptions with outdated terms or instruction, and reckoning with Duke’s history. In July, the incomplete information. These reparative description projects are libraries’ Racial Justice Strategy Task Force of eight staff members a way to bring forward the Black experiences documented in the released the roadmap. library’s collection.

Early roadmap steps, meant to spark community reflection, “There is work that has happened, but we know there is still included a series of virtual staff discussions on race and a 21-day a lot more to do,” Hodges said. “We all know this is a marathon staff challenge featuring readings and activities aimed at better and not a sprint.”  understanding how race shapes everyday life. By Stephen Schramm

“We wanted to help create a different level of awareness,” said Hodges, Racial Justice Strategy Task Force’s convener. Other activities such as making library spaces inclusive and Anti-Racist Roadmap creating ways to help faculty include more diverse scholarship in Duke University Libraries, as part of its guiding principle, “Diversity Strengthens Us,” laid out the steps to becoming a more inclusive part of campus and the wider community. Learn more: bit.ly/LibrariesRoadmap.

DUKESOCIAL

What you’re sharing online

Duke Health

March 8

More of the Duke community are eligible receive COVID-19 vaccinations. The latest groups to be vaccinated include housekeeping, dining staff and faculty teaching in face-to-face settings. Read more: https://bddy.me/3cdJYO1 Working@Duke | #COVID19 | #OneMoreWay

Devin Demy

@devdemy

Thanks for the awesome write up @WorkingatDuke I’m so proud to work with the team behind the teams as we #keepplaying and stay #dukeunited

Working@Duke @WorkingatDuke · Mar 1 Dedicated Devils: Devin Demyanovich protects @ DukeU athletes from injuries and #COVID19. http:// ow.ly/4Th450DJ1Qz @DukeATHLETICS @DukeWRES @ DukeFEN @DukeFH Go online to discover more

News You Can Use:

Amid Pandemic, Buildings Open

Construction that started before COVID-19 still moved forward, giving building openings a different feel.

bit.ly/DukeCampus Projects2021

Virtual Meeting Etiquette

A guide for common courtesies for your video calls and other online gatherings.

bit.ly/VirtualApril2021

Retirees Renew Ties

Former Duke employees find relief from the pandemic by taking short online classes from the safety of home.

bit.ly/OLLIE2021

Connect with Working@Duke on Social Media

Facebook facebook.com/WorkingatDuke

Twitter @WorkingatDuke