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.

Increased visits to BSD elementary summer camps with two visits to provide our summer reading program in 2024.
Distribution of thousands of free books to youth at free meal pickup sites since 2020.
Visits by our summer outreach team to Beaverton School District Meal Sites 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 in 2022.

Added materials in Japanese and Korean for adults at Murray Scholls in October 2024.
Added W.I.L.D. Packs in partnership with THPRD to increase opportunities for kids to interact with nature in summer 2024.
Increased circulating material budgets for non-English materials for kids and adults in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
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. Conducted a more thorough audit in 2024. Purchased 950 items.
Added several Community Bookshelves throughout the city, giving our neighbors access to books without having to check them out or return them in 2022, 2023 and 2025.
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.

Increased Arabic storytimes to twice monthly in Jan. 2024.
Added Chinese storytimes in Feb. 2024.
Increased number of English / Spanish bilingual signage, webpages, and publications.
Established a Community Resource Specialist with Project Homeless Connect.
Host seasonal free Citizenship Classes.
Provide free computer classes and one-on-one tech help.
The summer 2023 launch of our bookmobile, which carries materials to different locations around Beaverton, including parks, senior living facilities, apartment complexes, and more.

Formed Anti-Racism Action Committee, made up of library staff, in 2020. The committee then transitioned in 2025 to become the Belonging Committee.
Created DEI Toolkit through fellowship program in 2019.