Harmful Content and Language in Library Collections

Van Wylen Library strives to provide diverse resources in many formats to support the rigorous liberal arts education at Hope College. We acknowledge that some items in our collections contain content that is harmful or offensive regarding issues of race, gender, sexuality, disability and other aspects of identity. We further recognize that the structures, standards, and language used to describe our resources are not neutral and ever evolving. Some materials and the language used to describe them may reflect oppressive systems, such as colonialism, white supremacy, sexism and ableism, making them harmful and/or difficult to view.

Such content does not embody our Hope College values, nor does it align with our commitment to being a welcoming community that affirms the dignity of all persons. However, the removal or redaction of any items from our collections due to harmful content would erase evidence of injustices. They serve as reminders to be vigilant in our efforts toward better representation and transparency.

The Library is committed to ongoing efforts to review and revise descriptions and terminology used for our collections. We encourage users to think critically and be curious when engaging with items from our collections and to contact us with any questions or concerns. With your help, we hope to continue making Van Wylen Library a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone.

(Last revised October 2026.)