Initiative of the Library, University of Vienna: "Der Denkzettel"

As a library, we want to set an example against racism and for empowerment.

The background:
Not least since the Black Lives Matter movement, the Library of the University of Vienna has been called upon to address racism, colonialism and discrimination. Since June 2021, the working group "Colonial Contexts - Decolonize the library" has been dealing with different approaches to decolonization in the library. A consciously critical examination and contextualization of the historically grown collection is an important part of this work. A visible sign of this is the creation of a racism-critical location in the textbook library: literature of all genres on racism and discrimination is purchased on an ongoing basis. Due to the renovation of the Main Library, this collection will be moved to the African and Middle Eastern Studies Library in summer 2024.

But now to the Denkzettel (inspired by the Art History Library).
The idea behind it is for readers to take a critical look at the library's holdings and identify books with racist and/or discriminatory content as problematic. They give the book a memo (Denkzettel) and enable a critical discussion of the topic.

The "Denkzettel" will be available from TODAY in the African and Middle Eastern Studies Library and at the Social and Cultural Anthropology Library and we hope for numerous imitators.

Start: 21.03.2024

Birgit Athumani Hango
Head of the African and Middle Eastern Studies Library

MOOC "Diversity in the University Context. Racism-critical perspectives and insights into everyday student life"

A free online course!

Course: https://imoox.at/course/helci
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RmqQRochaY&t=2s

Based on the diverse university community of the University of Vienna, we provide knowledge and expertise in the field of diversity, inclusion and anti-discrimination. The course includes contributions from Anna Gaberscik (director of EDELWEISS), Vanja Minic (Austrian Rom:nja Student Union), Persy-Lowis Bulayumi (Initiative for a Discrimination-Free Education System) and Birgit Englert. The MOOC is aimed at the entire university community - from teachers and administrative staff to students and other educational institutions.

Lisa Tackie

Activities

  • 17.04.2024: AG Meeting
  • 01.03.2024: Ein kostenloser online-Kurs mit dem Titel “Diversität und Vielfalt im Kontext der Universität. Rassismuskritische Perspektiven und Einblicke in den Studienalltag”. Ausgehend von der vielfältigen Hochschulgemeinschaft der Universität Wien stellen wir Wissen und Expertise im Bereich Diversität, Inklusion und Anti-Diskriminierung zur Verfügung. In dem Kurs sind unter anderem Beiträge von Anna Gaberscik (Regisseurin von EDELWEISS), Vanja Minic (Hochschüler:innenschaft österreichischer Rom:nja), Persy-Lowis Bulayumi (Initiative für ein diskriminierungsfreies Bildungswesen) und Birgit Englert. Der MOOC richtet sich an die gesamte Hochschulgemeinschaft - von Lehrenden, über administrative Mitarbeiter:innen, bis hin zu Studierenden sowie anderen Bildungsinstitutionen. (Lisa Tackie)
  • 29.02.2024: Black History Month. Cooking with Khalifa, Dampha Kitchen. Co-organisation AntiRaRef.
  • 24.02.2024: Black History Month. Empowrment-Workshop, Big Sibling. BIPOC-only. Co-organisation AntiRaRef.
  • 21.02.2024: Black History Month. Afro-Dance Workshop with the Gold Cavia Crew. BIPOC-only. Co-organisation AntiRaRef.
  • 09.02.2024: Black History Month. Empowerment-Workshop with Lisa Tackie, Verein Disrupt. BIPOC-only. Co-organisation AntiRaRef.
  • December 2023-February 2024: Planning of the Black History Month
  • 13.10.2023: Co-organization of 'Schnittpunkt Afrika: Uncomfortable? Colonial-racist traces in libraries and books'.
  • 20.06.2023: Meeting with the IG KSA
  • 13.06.2023: Meeting with participants of the doctoral student mentoring programme doc:muv
  • 24.05.2023: AG Meeting
  • 24.05.2023: Meeting with the Doctoral School of Philosophy
  • 08.05.2023: Guided tour through the exhibition Schnittpunkt Afrika 2022/23 for Claudia Hausberger, University library and Birgit Kramreither, Cultural and Social Anthropology library (Lisa Tackie)
  • 26.04.2023: Filmscreening EDELWEISS (A movie by Anna Gaberscik and The Triangle Studio)
  • 19.04.2023: BIPoC Safer Space Meeting – Collagen (Lisa Tackie)
  • 24.03.2023: Event – ADOE meets DAS. Bridges between the Department of African Studies and the African Diaspora (Rémi Tchokothe, Lisa Tackie)
  • Summer semester 2023: Preparation and planning of the event 'Schnittpunkt Afrika: Uncomfortable? Colonial-racist traces in libraries and books' in the SE by Gaby Slezak 'Tracing colonial continuities - approaches to decolonizing knowledge systems in international research collaborations'.
  • 14.12.2022: BIPoC Safer Space Meeting - Punsch & Paint (Lisa Tackie)
  • 14.12.2022: Guided tour through the exhibition Schnittpunkt Afrika 2022/23 for the Equal Opportunities Working Group, University of Vienna (Lisa Tackie)
  • 06.12.2022: Guided tour through the exhibition Schnittpunkt Afrika 2022/23 for Christine Tragler, Südwind Magazin (Nadine Okalanwa, Lisa Tackie)
  • 23.11.2022: AG Meeting
  • 17.11.2022: BIPoC Safer Space Meeting- Snack & Paint (Lisa Tackie)
  • 14.10.2022: Opening of the exhibition 'Schnittpunkt Afrika: debates around decolonization and racism'
  • 13.06.2022: AG Meeting
  • 09.06.2022: BIPoC Safer Space Meeting - Austroschwarz in Concert (Lisa Tackie)
  • 08.04.2022: BIPoC Safer Space Meeting - Gruppenausstellung ‚Club Arte‘ (Lisa Tackie)
  • 18.03.2022: AG Meeting
  • 16.03.2022: BIPoC Safer Space Meeting - Ausstellung ‚Beauty and the Beholder’ Adesola Yusuf, Damilola Opedun, Johnson Ocheja
  • 26.01.2022: Quantitative survey on racism at the Department of African Studies (Shona Khumalo, Lisa Tackie)
  • 07.01.2022: AG Meeting
  • 03.12.2021: AG Meeting
  • 15.10.2021: AG Meeting
  • 17.11.2021: BIPoC Safer Space Meeting (Lisa Tackie)
  • 18.06.2021: AG Meeting
  • 23.04.2021: AG Meeting