DEI Initiatives
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Beaverton City Library
The following Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) action items are ways in which Beaverton City Library aims to:
- Reach populations that have been systemically underserved
- Increase access to books in "library deserts" to nourish a love of lifelong learning and reading within the community
- Reflect the diversity of our community within our services and resources
- Increase access to technology and lessen the digital divide
Recent DEI action items include:
Outreach
- The summer 2023 launch of our bookmobile, which carries materials to different locations around Beaverton, including parks, senior living facilities, apartment complexes, and more
- Distribution of thousands of free books to youth at free meal pickup sites since 2020
- Visits by our summer outreach team to seven local Title I schools each summer
- Our Library on Wheels program, which serves thousands of children in Beaverton and the surrounding area
- The addition of a Library Outreach Specialist with a focus on adults (core audience includes newcomers, immigrants, and refugees) in 2022
Collections
- Increased circulating material budgets for non-English materials for kids and adults in 2022 and 2023
- Conducted a diversity audit on children's and adult print collections to assess the range of diversity of authors and characters in our books and identify areas of growth in 2022
- Added several Community Bookshelves throughout the city, giving our neighbors access to books without having to check them out or return them in 2022 and 2023
- Added annually to the Library of Things collection to provide access to STEM and recreational resources since 2018
- Added circulating Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspots to make the Internet more accessible in 2021
Spaces
- Increased number of English / Spanish bilingual signage, webpages, and publications
- Established Partners in the Library, which includes Greater Good Northwest and CareOregon
- Host seasonal free Citizenship Classes
- Provide free computer classes and one-on-one tech help
Staff Development
- Formed Anti-Racism Action Committee made up of library staff in 2020
- Created DEI Toolkit through fellowship program in 2019
The Equity Everyday card was designed by library staff to help center equity while making decisions about our work (programming, outreach, storytimes, access, etc.)