Intentionally Equitable: Translating the Universal Design for Learning Principles to Academic Library Outreach

Clement, Kristina

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/125382 Copy

Description

Title

Intentionally Equitable: Translating the Universal Design for Learning Principles to Academic Library Outreach

Author(s)

Clement, Kristina

Issue Date

2024-12-20

Keyword(s)

• universal design for learning
• academic library outreach
• equity
• accessibility
• academic libraries

Date of Ingest

2025-01-30T10:10:53-06:00

Abstract

Equity in student learning experiences is a key concern in academic libraries, yet there is a striking lack of literature and frameworks addressing equitable academic library outreach. This gap exists despite the important intersection of library outreach with student learning, success, and wellness across multiple university units. This paper addresses this challenge by examining Universal Design for Learning (UDL)—a standard increasingly accepted in academic libraries for promoting equity in information literacy instruction and pedagogy—for its potential applicability in the domain of library outreach. Although originally intended for instructional contexts, the UDL principles are shown in this paper to be relevant to, and practicable in, library outreach initiatives. The paper reviews a selection of the literature on academic library outreach, accessibility, and equity, highlighting the need for more structured consideration of these critical areas. It also presents a detailed examination of UDL guidelines and checkpoints, providing outreach-related examples and short case studies from the author's own programming and outreach experiences that exemplify the effective application of UDL principles in library outreach. This exploration not only extends the potential use of UDL beyond traditional instructional settings but also serves as a foundation for academic librarians and researchers to further develop and refine practices promoting equity, accessibility, and inclusivity in library outreach efforts.

Publisher

Journal of Library Outreach and Engagement

Type of Resource

text

Genre of Resource

article

Language

eng

DOI

https://doi.org/10.21900/j.jloe.v4.1395

Copyright and License Information

• Copyright 2024 Kristina Clement.
• This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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