Welcome to the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice (EDISJ) Library Guide
This guide outlines the Okanagan College Library EDISJ Committee's mission, EDISJ goals, and recommended EDISJ-related resources.
Okanagan College Library respectfully acknowledges that our Penticton, Kelowna and Vernon campuses are located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan People, our Salmon Arm campus is located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Secwépemc People, and our Revelstoke centre is located on the traditional and unceded territories of the Ktunaxa, Secwépemc, Sinixt and Syilx Okanagan Peoples.
Okanagan College Library strives to acknowledge, address, and disrupt the ongoing and historical role it has played in upholding systems of oppression against IBPOC*, 2SLGBTQIA+**, and other equity-deserving groups. We value and strive to serve the diverse needs of library users and employees. We recognize that this change must occur on an individual, departmental, and institutional level.
We strive to promote a welcoming, inclusive space for all OC community members to come for information, inspiration, and support.
We aspire to reflect the needs of all members of our community through our interactions, services, resources, and spaces.
Working towards respectful representation of diverse perspectives and centering traditionally marginalized voices in our resources, while recognizing and respecting Indigenous protocols around culturally sensitive materials.
Upholding the Brave Space Agreement when interacting with library users and employees and providing cultural competency training opportunities for library employees.
Providing lending, reference, web, instructional services, and programming that emphasize inclusion of traditionally and currently marginalized groups.
Cultivating a space of belonging where all students, employees, and community members can work, gather, and learn.
Continuously consulting with those who use the library, as well as those who do not, in order to inform how the library can better respond to diverse and changing needs.
Okanagan College Library will gauge the impact of its commitment to EDISJ by carrying out the Library EDISJ Goals.
*IBPOC = “Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour” (IBPOC Artistic Practices)
** 2SLGBTQIA+ = “Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer (or Questioning), Intersex, Asexual (or sometimes Ally). The placement of Two Spirit (2S) first is to recognize that Indigenous people are the first peoples of this land and their understanding of gender and sexuality precedes colonization. The ‘+’ is for all the new and growing ways we become aware of sexual orientations and gender diversity” (Equity and Inclusion Glossary of Terms, UBC).
This site is maintained by the librarians of Okanagan College Library.
If you wish to comment on an individual page, please contact that page's author.
If you have a question or comment about Okanagan College Library's LibGuides site as a whole, please contact the site administrator.
