Sustaining Diversity in an Academic Library: Policies and Practices at the University of South Florida Tampa Library

The University of South Florida Tampa Library has recently integrated a diversity audit report into planning activities that will provide an inclusive library environment for patrons, library faculty, and staff. The diversity audit report was prepared by librarians and staff during 2004 and evaluated diversity issues within the library structural organization. Library collections and library services were analyzed. Besides framing organizational goals for the library's human resource manager, the diversity audit report also provides study goals to a diversity committee comprised of library faculty and staff. Strategies to sustain diversity initiatives, such as outreach and educational activities at the USF Tampa Library, emphasize communication and technology. The strategies include maintenance of a web presence, specialized communication to students, and the use of institutional statistics and profiles to help chart socio-economic changes in the campus environment. The inclusion of the data in the auditing process is a significant factor in sustaining diversity initiatives at the USF Tampa Library.