University Libraries Receive Excellence in Access and Diversity Award

Photo of University Libraries staff

By Amy Geduldig

ALBANY, N.Y. (Jan. 28, 2025) — The University Libraries at the University at Albany has received the 2025 Library Excellence in Access and Diversity (LEAD) Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education. The LEAD Award, which debuted last year, honors academic libraries' programs and initiatives that encourage and support inclusive excellence and belonging across their campuses. UAlbany Libraries also received the award last year.

UAlbany Libraries — which includes the main library, Science Library on the Uptown Campus, and Dewey Graduate Library on the Downtown Campus — will be featured alongside 33 other recipients in the March 2025 issue of the magazine for their excellence in areas such as research, technology, accessibility, exhibitions and community outreach.

“At UAlbany Libraries, we strive to create opportunities where all our students, faculty and staff can thrive,” said Carey Hatch, dean of University Libraries. “Our libraries are an essential link to our past, present and future, and I am incredibly proud of the work our library team has done to celebrate the vibrant diversity of our campus community and to build on the materials, programs and resources that make our community unique and exceptional. I’m grateful to Insight Into Diversity for recognizing these efforts and look forward to another great year for our Great Danes.”

“The LEAD Award reflects the University at Albany’s commitment to providing equitable access to resources, services, and programming that support greater awareness and understanding,” said Samuel Caldwell, vice president of inclusive excellence and equity and chief diversity officer. “Our dedicated team of library professionals has created new and enriching opportunities for our campus community to enhance their own learning and research.”

University Libraries launched several initiatives over the past year that helped support the welcoming and inclusive atmosphere celebrated by the award. Highlights include:

  •  Library Ambassador program — The successful program led by student volunteers promotes the resources and services available at University Libraries and this year created The Queer Book Club, a new book club in collaboration with the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center dedicated to exploring the diverse narratives within the LGBTQ+ spectrum through the lens of literature.
  • Banned Books Week programming — In recognition of Banned Books Week, University Libraries hosted a series of events, including a Drag Story Hour program also in collaboration with the GSRC.
  • Open Access Week — The annual event features games, robots and thought-provoking conversations about the power of open research. This year’s event included faculty insights, hands-on demos and an exploration into how open practices are shaping education and tackling global challenges.
  • Growing collection of Spanish-language graphic novels — The popular collection is regularly enjoyed by students and curated by Jesús Alonso-Regalado, subject librarian for history, Latin American studies and Romance languages.
  • And more exciting programs to come, including an Art + Feminism Wikipedia Edit-a-thon next month in partnership with the university’s Art Museum and Climate Committee.

“We know that many academic libraries are not always recognized for their dedication to diversity, inclusion, and access,” said Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of Insight Into Diversity magazine. “We are proud to honor these college and university libraries as role models for other institutions of higher education.”

A call for nominations for this award was announced in October 2024.

For more information about the 2025 Library Excellence in Access and Diversity (LEAD) Award, visit insightintodiversity.com.