Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The Library’s focus on enhancing equity, diversity and inclusion is part of an ongoing commitment to strengthen relationships with diverse communities. Cultivating a culture of equity and inclusion is made possible by providing accessible and responsive services, teaching, programming, events and spaces.

At the Library, all students, staff, faculty and visitors of MRU are welcome and valued for their diverse backgrounds and perspectives. We seek to be a campus space where everyone can access and share information regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, spirituality, gender identity and/or expression, age, sexual orientation, ability, socioeconomic status, or national origin. Acknowledging the historical exclusion of voices, perspectives and knowledge in libraries, we commit to Indigenous reconciliation, diversity, equity, justice and inclusion daily in our work.

Recent Actions

All-Gender Washrooms

In 2023, washrooms on Level 1 of the RLLC were updated to provide additional all-gender options. Single stall universal and accessible washrooms are located on each floor of the RLLC. Menstrual products are available in all gender neutral and women's washrooms in the building.

Catalogue and Subject Headings Review

The exclusion of voices, perspectives, and knowledge in libraries have historically shaped the standards libraries use in bibliographic description, resulting in language use that reflects the terminology and biases of the time in which they were created. The Library regularly reviews and updates harmful language in our catalogue and encourages vendors who supply our records to do the same. In 2023-2024, the Library implemented the Homosaurus Vocabulary to help supplement gaps in subject headings from the Library of Congress regarding the 2SLGBTQIA+ community..

Pathways to ‘Open’

Access to information is an issue of equity. Open Access, Open Data, and Open Educational Resources are all part of a movement to equalize access to education and scholarship by fostering inclusive ways to create and disseminate knowledge. The Library advocates for the sharing and use of open resources across campus, reducing financial barriers and making access to information more equitable. Learn more about Open Practices here.

Indigenization

Learn more about the Library's Indigenization efforts here.

Food for Fines

Library users with fines on their account can reduce or eliminate them through food donations collected for the SAMRU student food bank. Users can bring non-perishable food items to the Library Service Desk every Tuesday to reduce overdue fines by $5.00 each week.

Anti-Black Racism Collections Fund

In 2020, the Library established an annual collections fund to acquire library materials that challenge anti-Black racism and oppression. The librarian assigned to the fund identifies any gaps or omissions in our collection and ensures those titles are added to the collection for the campus to access.

Accessibility

The Riddell Library and Learning Centre has accessible entrances, each with door activation push buttons. The main/north building entrance is at ground level, and the east entrance is directly accessible from the parking lot, with a wheelchair lift in the foyer. There is also direct interior access to the building from the underground parkade.

Other accessibility features include:

Single stall accessible washrooms on each floor
Dedicated accessible workstations in the Computer Commons for those with visual impairments: One computer with a large print keyboard and one computer with an electronic magnifier for print materials
Adjustable height computer workstations on each floor
Private, low-distraction study pods

Our website adheres to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and we utilize alt text where possible in our social media presence. If you have specific accessibility needs that you have questions about, please reach out to the Service Desk in-person or via webchat.

Featured Displays and Collections

The Library has launched and shared new collections with the goal of improving findability and awareness of resources that promote inclusion and anti-racism.