North Kentucky News

New Titles Added To Steely’s Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Book Collection

Perched beneath the interior hut glass window on the third floor of Steely Library proudly sits Steely’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Book Collection. 

The collection is primarily nonfiction, including foundational texts, bestselling autobiographies, and historical accounts by and about people from various cultures and backgrounds throughout history. 

The books are a curated selection from Steely’s existing inventory, with the latest additions reflecting DEI-related research, insights, and best practices in the field of education.

In the fall of 2021, Steely’s Inclusive Excellence Committee kickstarted the library’s inaugural annual call for DEI projects. 

The call is open to every Steely faculty or staff member, inviting submission of a project proposal that advances DEI initiatives in the library and supports NKU’s Success By Design. 

Once reviewed and approved by the IE committee and library leadership, the proposer is granted funds to bring the project to life. 

The Center for Innovation and Technology in Education’s (CITE) Manager, Tommy Fix, works with his team of instructional designers and instructors across campus to create the best possible learning experiences for students at NKU. 

When scanning Steely’s existing DEI-related collection, Tommy noticed a lack of resources explicitly related to DEI in education.

With the pursuit to further enhance the NKU student learning experience, Tommy proposed to the IE Committee that Steely supplement the existing collection with materials geared towards broadening instructors' exposure to current inclusive pedagogical practices. 

As a result, NKU could see more inclusive classrooms leading to higher class completion rates. 

"By making students feel more included, we can remove one of the barriers preventing them from completing their courses," said Tommy. 

Seeing the potential to facilitate a greater sense of belonging on campus, the committee and library leadership greenlit Tommy's proposal. 

Upon approval, Tommy quickly began partnering with stakeholders inside and outside the library. 

Seeking insight from subject matter experts, Tommy connected with NKU's Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer & Title IX Coordinator, Darryl Peal. "Darryl was an enthusiastic source of great information and reached out to his own colleagues to provide a list of the books they found important," said Tommy. 

Ready to roll with the robust reading list from the Office of Inclusive Excellence, Tommy began working more closely with Collections and Discovery Services to acquire the new books and physically consolidate the collection. 

As a result, you can now find the combined collection on display on the third floor by the loggia entrance. 

You can also find inclusive pedagogy ebooks through Steely's online catalog. 

Original source can be found here