Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

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drawn depiction of many people of diverse backgrounds

 

Libraries are for everyone. The mission of E.D. Locke Public Library is to provide high quality materials and services to fulfill the informational, recreational, educational and cultural needs of the entire community in an atmosphere that is welcoming and respectful.

We are examining our programming, policies, training, and resources to ensure these needs are being met in an equitable, diverse, and inclusive manner. This will be a continual, ongoing process and we welcome feedback on ways to best support and serve our community.

The library board passed this Non-Discrimination statement on October 2, 2017:

The E.D. Locke Public Library does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, religion, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status in employment or the provision of services.

Programming:

The E. D. Locke Public Library, along with many other libraries in Dane County, is participating in the Ripple Project.  In 2021-2022, Beyond the Page programs will be unified under the common theme of racial equity and will aim to engage communities in meaningful reflection and dialogue about race.  For more information on Beyond the Page and the Ripple Project go to beyondthepage.info/ripple-project

Policies:

The E. D. Locke Public Library is going to use the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Inclusive Services Assessment and Guide to assess all of our policies, procedures, and services.  This work was scheduled to begin in March of 2020.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this timeline has been pushed back to January 2021.   For information on inclusive services at public libraries, please visit dpi.wi.gov/pld/inclusive-services

Training:

Library staff will be participating in diversity, equity, and inclusion training beginning in late 2020 and continuing indefinitely. 

Resources:

The E. D. Locke Library will continually evaluate our collection and share resources to ensure diverse voices and perspectives are represented and visible.

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