Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Beaverton City Library practices Equity Everyday. Examples of recent DEI action items include:

Outreach

• The summer 2023 launch of our Bookmobile which will carry materials to different locations around Beaverton including parks, senior living facilities, apartment complexes, and more! 
• Handed out thousands of free books to youth at free meal pick up sites.
• Summer outreach team visited seven local title one schools.
• The Library on Wheels program (L.O.W.) 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.

Collections

• Increased circulating material budgets for non-English materials for kids and adults.
• The addition of several Community Bookshelves throughout the city that give our neighbors access to books without having to check them out or return them.
• Annual additions to the Library of Things collection to provide access to STEM and recreational resources. 
• Added circulating Mobile Hotspots to make the Internet more accessible. 

Our Spaces

• Increased the number of English/Spanish bilingual signs, webpages and publications. 
• Partners in the Library include Greater Good Northwest, CareOregon and the Washington County Law Library.
• Host seasonal Citizenship Classes. 
• Since 2022, we have provided one-on-one tech help and monthly Computer Classes.

Staff Development

• Formation of the Anti-Racism Action Committee made up of library staff.
• Creation of a DEI Toolkit through a fellowship program.

The Equity Everyday Card was designed by BCL staff to help center equity while making decisions about our work (programming, outreach, storytimes, access, etc.).