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Off the Shelf is a publication written by and about Grand Valley State University Libraries. The goal of the publication is to share the impact University Libraries has on faculty, staff, and students at Grand Valley.
The Impact of First-Year Faculty Librarians
In the fall of 2017, Grand Valley State University Libraries joined the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Diversity Alliance, a program that seeks to increase the retention of qualified academic librarians from underrepresented groups by creating opportunities for skill development and leadership early in their careers. As a result, the University Libraries welcomed two visiting faculty members, Melina Zavala and Preethi Gorecki, who are innovating new and creative approaches to instruction and research.
Universal Design for Learning
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) provides guidelines for developing curricula, selecting materials, and creating learning environments that consider the wide variability of learners in higher education. Through the intentional adoption of the best practices of Universal Design for Learning, Grand Valley State University Libraries demonstrates its ongoing commitment to inclusion and equity.
Library Excellence Award: Debbie Morrow: "Liberal Arts Nerd at Heart"
In 2017, Morrow was recognized by University Libraries colleagues with the Library Excellence Award, which is awarded to a faculty or staff member who goes above and beyond their job description. For Morrow, the best part of being a librarian is "any occasion when I can be an advocate for faculty and students in my liaison departments. I'm not here to tell people 'no we can’t do that,' I'm here to help find a way."
Morrow describes herself as a "liberal arts nerd at heart." Her personal belief in the value of liberal arts education helped shape her career and continues to inform her dedication to helping students, faculty, and staff be successful.
A Message from the Dean
Libraries have the opportunity to be an active ally in the journey for social justice, inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA). It is a matter of ongoing commitment to challenging our assumptions, habits, and, at times, our very systems and codified standards. This commitment to lean into our discomfort arches into our fundamental values as a discipline.