Oct. 12, 2021
CWU Libraries Joins ACRL Diversity Alliance
Central Washington University Libraries joined the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Diversity Alliance this summer. The ACRL Diversity Alliance seeks to promote more equitable hiring practices within academic libraries by facilitating and encouraging participation by a more diverse population in the library profession.
Membership in the ACRL Diversity Alliance is a natural outgrowth of CWU’s and the libraries' diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and expands on the libraries' existing Anti-racism Action Plan, according to the Dean of CWU Libraries Rebecca Lubas.
“We want CWU to be seen as a place that is on the front line of diversifying the library profession, and to help students be at home in higher education,” Lubas said. “Diversity residents go on to amazing careers, and CWU will have been part of that.”
As part of its participation in the Alliance, CWU Libraries is welcoming its first diversity resident. Bridgette Flamenco is a recent graduate of San Jose State University’s Master of Library and Information Science program. During her time as a student, Flamenco worked as a diversity scholar with Oregon State University Libraries.
Her two-year residency at CWU will include rotations with various library units to gain a breadth of professional experience in instruction, access services, reference, and more. Flamenco’s appointment will culminate in a research project focused on the needs of first-generation college students.
As a part of CWU’s ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, CWU Libraries is continuously looking for ways to make students from all walks of life feel at home browsing its ever-expanding collection of material.
“We have an active program to diversify the collections and obtain more books and other resources by authors from underrepresented groups,” Lubas said. “It’s key that students see themselves represented in the library, to see themselves as scholars and researchers. To see they belong here.”
About Central Washington University
Central Washington University is located in Ellensburg, Washington, and is the most diverse higher education institution in the state of Washington. CWU has been honored with the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award in seven of the last eight years.
Media contact: Rune Torgersen, Department of Public Affairs, rune.torgersen@cwu.edu.