The Improving Access to Civil Legal Justice through Public Libraries initiative has previously discussed the challenges facing those who fall into the justice gap—the divide between the need for civil legal aid and a person’s ability to access resour...

Erie City Public Library in Erie, Kansas, serves a small town of about 1,085 people in Neosho County. We are a gathering place for the community.

One of the goals of our little library is to support the community as much as we can. We do the...

The Denver Public Library has prioritized research and learning related to racial equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), and in 2020 they hosted the Advancing Racial Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Symposium. This was a dynamic and engaging 3-d...

In this edition of our Social Library series, we’re highlighting ways libraries are demonstrating their commitment to antiracism, providing resources and programming for patrons of all ages. In addition to the examples below, be sure to explore the c...

With a determined stride and a big smile, Ida Abolins walks over to the writing desk at the window of the library in San Francisco and asks a young man bending over a pile of paper, "How are you doing?"

Overlooking the lavish City ...

"Yes!" That’s what Kathy Zappitello, Executive Director of the Conneaut Public Library wants her staff to be able to say to patrons, to colleagues, and to new opportunities. The library, which serves a community of 12,841 residents in north...

Do you feel it is important to have a diverse children’s collection, but don’t always know where to start? The Diverse BookFinder Collection Analysis Tool (CAT), funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, is specifically des...

In Was the Cat in the Hat Black?, author Philip Nel examines the racist illustrations present in a number of Dr. Seuss’s works, and points out racism present in other children’s classics. Many of these books are on our shelves.

Creating inclusive and equitable school and public library programs for Black youth, Indigenous youth, and Youth of Color (BIYOC) requires knowledge about topics such as race and racism, implicit bias and microaggressions, cultural competence and cul...

Putting a focus on accessibility helps create a library that can be enjoyed by more people and can connect more people to the information and resources they need. Opportunities to make libraries more accessible can include decisions about your collec...