Electronic Resource Librarian University of South Florida
The general library collections and special collections at the University of South Florida have been working independently to support the library mission but a separation seems to naturally occur due to different information formats, management software, and collection policies. The Collections in the Curriculum Committee, a group that seeks to identify opportunity to discover, promote, and integrate distinctive USF Libraries research collections into the teaching and research, is taking the initiative to bring together the diverse library resources from special collection and the general library collection together into topical hub pages. These hub pages will be built to support the strategic interests of the Tampa library including LGBTQ+ studies However, what started as a simple plan to break down internal silos and increase usage of resources takes on a deeper meaning in the current political climate of Florida. With initiatives to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion offices at universities as well as change or eliminate courses that teach critical race theory, gender studies, or any related subjects, it is becoming a radical act to provide access or promote LGBTQ+ and Civil Rights Collections that focus on the African American Experience in Florida. This poster will visually highlight the LGBTQ+ and Civil Rights Collections and show how the University of South Florida Libraries are trying to create a portal pages to provide access to special collections and resources that promote research and study by breaking down the traditional internal silos and focusing on topics to unify resources across the library.