Reposted from the ProQuest blog

A message from ProQuest

We are saddened and outraged by the senseless deaths of George Floyd and so many other people of color, and by the much longer history of racism both in the U.S. and around the world. These events are tragic and reprehensible. As demonstrations for justice continue across the U.S. and around the world, we wish to state — unequivocally — that ProQuest stands for equality, justice, and the right to be able to live free of fear and oppression.

ProQuest fully supports the right of individuals to protest peacefully to enact much-needed change. Today and every day, we continue to stand in solidarity in the fight against racism and social injustice and affirm that Black Lives Matter.

While words are important, actions are needed to make change happen and we want to share what we are doing:

• We are making a $25,000 donation to support the important work of the Legal Defense and Education Fund at the NAACP, a group whose partnership has been very meaningful to ProQuest.
• We are continuing our long-standing alliance with the American Library Association’s Spectrum Scholarship program, making another three-year commitment totaling $173,000 to support the education of librarians who represent the under-represented in the library community.
• Because we believe knowledge and trusted information lead to progress and change, in the coming weeks we will be announcing a program that provides a selection of resources related to civil rights to be openly available and free of charge to the community. These resources will be made available through public libraries to ensure the broad access that these institutions are uniquely situated to provide, allowing anyone to explore this content.

While we grieve together over the inhumane injustices that have occurred, we recognize and embrace our responsibility to help create a better, more equitable, and more compassionate future. There is more that we can and will do. The collective actions of many will make a difference.

Matti Shem Tov
Chief Executive Officer

Digital resource management lies at the heart of Ex Libris’ solutions, enabling libraries to bridge the digital divide and provide equal access to knowledge. Just as ProQuest champions open access to vital civil rights resources, Ex Libris integrated library system champions open access to information in all its forms. Together, we can empower libraries to become vibrant hubs of learning, discovery, and understanding, fostering a more just and equitable future.