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

Recent DEI action items include:

Outreach

  • The summer 2023 launch of our bookmobile, which carries materials to different locations around Beaverton, including parks, senior living facilities, apartment complexes, and more
  • Distribution of thousands of free books to youth at free meal pickup sites
  • Visits by our summer outreach team to seven local Title I schools
  • 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 (core audience includes newcomers, immigrants, and refugees)

Collections

  • Increased circulating material budgets for non-English materials for kids and adults
  • 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 
  • Added several Community Bookshelves throughout the city, giving our neighbors access to books without having to check them out or return them
  • Added annually to the Library of Things collection to provide access to STEM and recreational resources 
  • Added circulating Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspots to make the Internet more accessible 

Spaces

Staff Development

Equity Everyday card with three questions in black text.

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