Penrose Library Receives National Award for Accessibility & Diversity

Penrose Library at Whitman College has been honored with the 2025 Library Excellence in Accessibility and Diversity (LEAD) Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine, the oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education. The prestigious award recognizes academic libraries that exemplify inclusive excellence through innovative programs and initiatives, with a focus on supporting diversity, equity and belonging.

Uplifting Latinx voices. A Hispanic Heritage Month display in the library lobby highlights Spanish-language fiction from around the Americas.

Ping Fu, Director of Penrose Library, says, “This award underscores our mission to provide equitable access to knowledge and foster a welcoming environment for growth. It reflects our commitment to diversity, amplifying underrepresented voices and empowering our community through inclusive resources. Together with the Whitman community, we strive to create a space where diverse perspectives are celebrated, paving the way for meaningful dialogue and transformative learning.”

As part of a five year strategic plan written in 2023–2024, Penrose Library staff committed to creating a more accessible and welcoming environment. Foundational to the library’s efforts is the Penrose Library Equity, Inclusion, Anti-Racism, and Diversity (PLEIAD) initiative, a working group that strengthens a culture of engaged learning among staff through regular discussions on anti-racism, accessibility and equity.

Expanding Inclusive Excellence Through Collaboration

Inclusive excellence initiatives aim to ensure the library is a physically and psychologically comfortable campus resource. A staff Neurodivergence Task Force partners with the college’s Academic Resource Center and Disability Support Services to alleviate library anxiety and is writing a social story, a tool developed to help neurodivergent people understand social situations and protocols at places they are not familiar with.

A collaboration with Whitman’s Human-Centered Design program is assessing ways to improve spaces and resources for all users. The library also partners with campus departments to deliver educational displays and programming that highlight underrepresented voices, including a new tabling initiative for the Visiting Writers Reading Series.  

Penrose Library’s commitment also extends to promoting diversity and inclusivity in the broader Walla Walla community. The library’s actions in support of this goal include collaborating with local organizations such as the Walla Walla Immigrant Rights Coalition and the Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center.

A Campuswide Commitment to Diversity & Accessibility

Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of Insight Into Diversity, praised Penrose Library and other LEAD Award recipients, saying, “We know that many academic libraries are not always recognized for their dedication to diversity, inclusion and access. We are proud to honor these college and university libraries as role models for other institutions of higher education.”

The LEAD Award follows Whitman’s receipt of the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award in 2024, underscoring the institution’s ongoing commitment to inclusive excellence, a core strategic priority. As the college continues to advance this mission, Penrose Library serves as a vital hub of innovation and inclusion, providing a welcoming environment for a diverse community of learners.