A Message to Our Community
“I was made for the library, not the classroom. The classroom was a jail of other people's interests. The library is open, unending, free.” -Ta-Nehisi Coates
As a public institution committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, Carpenter-Carse Library must condemn racism. Adding books to the collection, creating thoughtful displays, and scheduling relevant programs is no longer enough. As an institution and as individuals, we must identify and speak out against injustices such as the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and many others. We believe that Black Lives Matter.
Some of you may have similar feelings and are wondering how you can do more to listen, learn, and make changes. While reading books may not be enough right now, it is a place to start. The internet has a wealth of reading recommendations for folks who are committed to learning what it means to be anti-racist, and we are proud to be able to offer many of those titles to you. This picture contains a sampling of resources we can provide to the community. Please contact us to reserve an item today or to ask if we can find one for you.
Our juvenile collection also contains many excellent books for caregivers hoping to find stories centering on underrepresented groups and to support conversations on racism, oppression, diversity, injustice, and activism. Here are a few examples:
