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This is a huge day for @EPSLibraries, so get ready for a thread. Over two years ago, we started working with @jenniferlagarde to understand the importance of a diverse and representative library collection. (1)
Kids needed to be able to see themselves and each other in our collections to foster empathy, feel seen and understood, and fall in love with reading. (2)
However, our collections were woefully outdated, not particularly diverse, and contained many old books that perpetuated negative stereotypes that actively worked against what we knew we wanted to achieve. (3)
We worked with Jennifer on a proposal to inform our district and school board of the need, and hopefully secure funding to bring our collections into the present and better support ALL our students. (4)
We finished and presented our proposal in February. In June, the @EvergreenPS school board approved over $400,000 (!!!) to update our collections to support ALL our students and make sure that no matter who you are, you are seen, valued, and represented in our books. (5)
That was just the beginning of the process.
For the last six months, we have created lists, surveyed our communities, removed actively harmful books, answered questions, led committees, worked with vendors, and finally, placed our orders. (6)
For the last six months, we have created lists, surveyed our communities, removed actively harmful books, answered questions, led committees, worked with vendors, and finally, placed our orders. (6)
Today, the first shipment officially arrived. Two years of hard work around diversity and inclusion led to this moment, and we are beyond thrilled.
Thank you to @jenniferlagarde for starting us on this journey, teaching us, and supporting us every step along the way. (7)
Thank you to @jenniferlagarde for starting us on this journey, teaching us, and supporting us every step along the way. (7)
Thank you @GrimstedBrian for believing in us and our work, and helping us navigate the best way to approach presenting our case and asking for support. Thank you to @MikeMerlino1 for listening to us, supporting us, and taking our proposal to the school board. (8)
Thank you to all our school board members for understanding the importance of our work, the impact it will have on students, and for stepping up and generously funding this work around diversity and inclusion. (9)
Finally, thank you to ALL our fantastic @EPSLibraries teacher-librarians who worked extra hours, went outside of their comfort zone, and never stopped advocating for supporting ALL our students. (10)
The books are starting to arrive, but our work is just beginning. Stay tuned as we begin promoting, circulating and integrating these books. This is transformative for our libraries, and we can’t wait to show you what’s next. (11)
