Binghamton University Libraries are committed to developing collections that promote academic excellence and prioritize inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility. This objective is central to the current strategic plan and aligns with broader initiatives among academic libraries to decolonize their collections. Historically, libraries have curated collections centered on dominant cultures or academic traditions rooted in Eurocentric perspectives. Decolonizing collections involves critically evaluating which voices, histories and perspectives are represented, and implementing concrete measures to address gaps resulting from historical or structural inequities.
The Origins and Evolution of the Committee
The University Libraries has a long history of doing this work, and the Decolonizing Collections Committee (DCC) is tasked with advancing efforts to decolonize collections by enhancing representation, diversity, and inclusivity, and by ensuring that library practices reflect the broad and diverse community served by Binghamton University Libraries. The DCC addresses issues related to material acquisition and critically examines historical library practices that may no longer meet patrons’ needs.
Reporting through the Libraries Collections Steering Committee, the group builds on the scaffolding of previous anti-racism efforts to investigate and implement meaningful ways to diversify our collections.
Investments in Building Diverse Collections
The work of the committee during its first two years was extensive. In its first year, the DCC made a series of purchases to enhance the representation, diversity, and inclusivity of the Libraries’ electronic collections. As part of a bundled offer to maximize its acquisition budget, the DCC was able to provide access to a number of important area studies resources: five encyclopedias focusing on South Asian Religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Religions of Indigenous People of South Asia), Qur’anic Studies Online, African Research Online, and Latin American Anarchist and Labor Periodicals.
Providing access to reference works and primary sources are important gateways into the study of any topic. Instead of focusing on a single underrepresented area or perspective, the DCC decided to target multiple resources that fit within that category and span a broad range of disciplines and areas of study in its first year.
For the academic year 2024-2025, the DCC continued to invest in new purchases that highlight diverse voices and perspectives. The committee worked in conjunction with knowledgeable subject librarians to purchase two databases: Caribbean Literature and Latino Literature. These databases provide access to fiction, drama, and poetry published from both the 19th and 20th centuries written in their original languages and dialects. The committee has also provided financial support for the purchase of the Docuseek Complete Collection, 4th edition, which includes over 2,500 streaming documentaries highlighting diverse voices and perspectives.
The DCC also provided support to “Cultural Awareness Resources for the Health Sciences: A Collection Development Project,” a research project offered as part of the Library Research Scholars program. This student scholar in this project will find gaps related to diversity, equity and inclusion in the current library catalog and recommend books to fill those gaps.
Moving forward, the DCC will continue to assess resources to expand access to diverse perspectives. In the future, that may mean focusing within a specific area or continuing to add multiple resources across a number of disciplines.
Promoting Independent Booksellers and Publishers
The committee created lists of independent publishers and New York area independent bookstores. The purpose of these lists is to provide liaison librarians with alternate possibilities for sourcing materials to purchase, and to support bookstores and publishers who are diversifying the book selling marketplace.
Harmful Language Statement
In support of Binghamton University Library’s dedication to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment, the Decolonizing Collections Committee (DCC) is excited to announce the adoption of a Remediation of Harmful Language Statement. This statement appears in full on the library website and a short notice, along with the link to the feedback form, is embedded in the bibliographic records of all resources in the library catalog. We’re thrilled to lead the way as the first SUNY institution to implement this initiative.
This proactive statement is meant to assure our patrons that we are committed to addressing offensive language and using terminology that accurately reflects the experiences of the groups represented in our resources as continuous advocates for improved accessibility. To further enhance our commitment, the DCC, in conjunction with the Cataloging Department, has introduced an anonymous feedback form, inviting users to share any concerns about language they find offensive or harmful.
Contact Us
For more information about the Libraries’ Decolonizing Collections Committee, contact the chair, Sasha Frizzell (sfrizzell@binghamton.edu).