UAL Collections Note 

The UAL library’s’ collections contain both historical and contemporary materials documenting a diversity of human expression, opinion and lived experience. Therefore, some collection resources include harmful, offensive, distressing, or inappropriate images and / or language, including materials that may document violence or hate speech, or resources that take positions differing from the institutions’ stated policies and beliefs. We recognise that many of these materials have been created and collected in privileged cultural environments, by teams of limited diversity. Older resources may reflect a national and institutional history that includes norms of colonisation, patriarchy, homophobia, heteronormativity, and racism. 

We acknowledge that library users accessing our resources and materials may encounter images, ideologies and language that are currently recognised as offensive, unacceptable, or difficult to view; these may or may not have been viewed as unacceptable when they were created, or in the case of more recent works may be considered contested literature. Inclusion of such content in our collections is not an endorsement of the language, images, or ideology encountered. UAL libraries reject any oppressive views reflected in our collections and resources. We believe in the importance of giving our library users access to our collections in a responsible and transparent way that preserves both historical and contemporary evidence of varied social conditions and attitudes; not least to those researching counterarguments and tools of oppression. By providing access to these materials, we believe we contribute to holding the creators accountable and in some cases to helping us learn from the past. 

While we do not exercise value judgements by labelling individual items as offensive or problematic, we can add a label pointing to this page for items highlighted by students, staff or visitors where resources diverge from UALs stated inclusion policies and positions on issues such as, but not limited to; race, sex, gender, disability, class and gender identity. 

As a profession, librarians are ethically opposed to censorship and book bans, and are committed to intellectual freedom. UK Higher Education Institutions have not banned any books that we are aware of, and so this is not something we are comfortable doing at UAL in the case of resources that may have research value. If you do encounter an item in the library collection that does not reflect UALs stated inclusion policy or position, or that you are concerned about, we would be very grateful if you would notify the library team. You can do this at the information desk, through your course librarian, on Ask, or using the anonymous Tell Someone page. We will then assess the items research value, consider whether more contemporary replacement items are preferable, or sticker the item with a link to this explanation if it’s appropriate to keep in the collection and to do so. Please note that these decisions will be reached on consideration of the institution’s policies and the resources research value and are therefore not subject to an individual’s value judgements. 

In addition to resources and content in our collection being potentially offensive or harmful, we are aware exclusion can also be perpetuated by the ways in which we describe and provide access to materials. We try to use descriptive language and organisation systems that are respectful of communities and individuals who were or are minoritized, whether these communities or individuals have created or have been represented or depicted within our resources. If you have any feedback or concerns with how we have described or organised our collections, terms, or items please do let us know so that we can continue work towards more inclusive practices and correct any mistakes. 

Please see the links below for further information:

UAL libraries collections policy

UAL libraries service standards

UAL inclusion policies

UAL library catalogue

UAL tell someone

UAL freedom of speech code of practice

UAL list of course librarians