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Message from the Dean and Leadership Team of the University Library

University Library
University Library, California State University, Northridge

California State University, Northridge

Summer 2020

As we write this message, the residents of our city, state, and nation are living through days of pain and anguish. We want to acknowledge this suffering, which has come about because of racist and violent actions in our society, persisting hundreds of years. Foremost in our minds are the recent killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, but there are many others in both the recent and distant past. We stand in solidarity with all of you who are seeing, feeling, and experiencing aspects of this horror. It is not acceptable that we live in a society where these kinds of violent acts committed or condoned by the government can occur.

The University Library at CSUN values freedom of expression, and thus we support those who are protesting in the streets against racism and police brutality. The Library also values diversity and inclusion, and thus we stand in solidarity with all of our brothers and sisters in the African American community who have so often been the victims of racist attacks.

We in the Library condemn police violence against black and brown people along with the overt and systemic racism that still exists in the United States. We stand in solidarity with groups like Black Lives Matter and in strong support of peaceful protest against injustice. We are committed to fighting discrimination and inequality wherever and whenever it rears its head.

What can we do during this dark time? We encourage all to listen to others who have suffered the pain of racism; to try to become allies to black and brown people who have been discriminated against for so many years in this country; and to educate ourselves about the realities of racism.

We ask all to reflect on the events of the recent past and to speak out whenever we see or hear of injustice in our land.

Sincerely,

Mark Stover
Dean, University Library

Kathy Dabbour
Associate Dean, University Library

Justin Kovalcik
Director of Library Information Technology

Susanna Eng-Ziskin
Chair, Research, Instruction & Outreach Services

Chris Bulock
Chair, Collection Access & Management Services

Luiz Mendes
Cataloging Coordinator

Learn more about our Mission, Vision and Values.