Fondren seeks to take proactive measures in promoting diversity, access, and inclusiveness. We took new steps in 2023-24 in the following areas:
Fondren’s First National First-Generation Festival Held
On the morning of November 10th, 2023, Fondren held its first First-Gen, Low-Income Fondren Festival celebration, a part of the week-long Office of Student Success Initiatives programming.
The students were provided with information tables including: Fondren 101/Using the library’s resources, self-help book collections, government information resources, and multiple other library resources were highlighted, including social media engagement, interlibrary loan, digital media services, how to trouble-shoot problems with e-resources, and a special Financial Literacy table with Certified Financial Education Instructor℠ librarian Debra Kolah, Head of User Experience. Additionally, a special cookbook and bakeware giveaway was organized by Jeanette Sewell, Metadata Coordinator & Copy Cataloging Supervisor. Vice Provost and University Librarian, Sara Lowman, provided funding for breakfast tacos and donuts.
Lunar New Year Event
The FY 24 marked the fourth year of the Fondren Library Lunar New Year Celebration to promote cultural diversity at Rice University. To strengthen the team, Foreign Language Subject Librarian Anna Shparberg was invited to join this year, resulting in the addition of new Lunar New Year-themed books to Fondren Library’s collection, an online book display, and an on-site Lunar New Year book display created in collaboration with Jeanette Sewell. Together, we offered new in person activities such as bookmark crafting (Anna Xiong, Government Information Coordinator/Kelley Center), a chopstick game (Hannah Edlund, Kelley Center Government Information/Patent Librarian), and a New Year picture station (Jane Zhao, Director of Digital Media Commons). Additionally, an online guide was created to showcase cultural information and resources. All 2024 Lunar New Year event team members (Jane Zhao, Anna Xiong, Hannah Edlund, and Anna Shparberg) have contributed content to the online guide. Furthermore, the Kelley Center student staff Joshua Cheng created a fun video clip "2024 Lunar New Year Heartwarming Greetings from Fondren." A lot of Fondren Library professional and student staff with diverse language talents have participated in the video. The video was well received and garnered quickly 1000+ views on Fondren's Instagram and 300+ views through Fondren's YouTube channel. Thanks to everyone’s participation to create together a harmonious multicultural festive atmosphere.
Images: Lunar New Year celebration activities and book display.
UX Office Whiteboards and Feedback Tables
The User Experience Office of Fondren Library regularly provides whiteboards on the first floor of Fondren to gather feedback around a question or topic that library staff are working on that would benefit from quick feedback. UX Student researchers, and UX Office staff also set up tables to do usability testing on library 
