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A MESSAGE FROM THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR
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 Dear community,
I hope that you and your families remain safe and well during this challenging and stressful time. In response to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and so many others before him, a wave of protests has swept across the country as people seek equity and justice for African Americans and other communities of color. Unfortunately, many of these demonstrations have been marred by violence and looting perpetrated by individuals not associated with the protests, and this has placed communities on edge. Yesterday, based on shifting information about potential threats, most downtown business owners boarded up storefronts as protection against vandalism or looting. As it turned out, Redwood City's protest, which originated with some very passionate local youth, was well-attended, peaceful, and powerful, and was not followed by any acts of violence. I am grateful to the organizers and attendees, as well as the thoughtful approach of our colleagues in the Redwood City Police Department, to keep everyone safe.
If you didn't see the statement that Police Chief Dan Mulholland put out this past week, I encourage you to read it
here
.
Redwood City Public Library has been actively immersed in racial equity work for our community since the fall of 2019, when we were selected through a competitive application process to be one of the pilot libraries for California State Library's California Libraries Cultivating Race, Equity and Inclusion (CREI) Initiative. CREI was designed specifically for government organizations to infuse a race and equity focus into organizational outcomes and service delivery through evidence-based shifts in operations, processes and policies. The CREI Initiative's broad goal is to catalyze a statewide network of libraries and library staff committed to racial equity and full inclusion for all to share information and deepen conversations as well as actions to grow racial equity in library service delivery and the communities that we serve.
Our diverse staff team participating in CREI has given itself the name
RCPL CARES -
Cultivating and Advancing Racial Equity Systemically
.
Next week, the RCPL CARES team will participate in its third and final two-day workshop with trainers from the
Government Alliance on Race and Equity
this year, after which we will have a robust set of tools for developing a Racial Equity plan, which will be heavily informed by community participation to be conducted later this year.
Libraries have historically deemed themselves 'neutral,' which effectively works to maintain the status quo of white privilege. We must reflect on the ways that Redwood City Public Library perpetuates institutional racism, and to take responsibility for challenging racial inequity and implementing positive change in our Library and in our community.
At this moment, as our staff begins to return to work in the Downtown Library to prepare for curbside service (launching June 16 - more details to come next week) during this transformational time in the country's history, I want to reaffirm the Library's commitments in our mission to welcome all people and in our five key
service priorities
to help our community meet its aspirations regarding inclusion, equity, awareness, safety, and education. A key component of our service priorities, best exemplified by the
Library Takeover
program series, is to launch new programs and activities for vulnerable populations, including people of color, and to work directly with these populations in the development of new programs and library collections that meet their needs.
As part of its initial assessment of policies and programs that disproportionately affect communities of color, the Library is working to eliminate all daily overdue fines for Library materials. Looking at fines in the context the demographics of our community, it is clear that daily fines hurt the people who need us most, especially people of color, and that fines are not necessary or effective for encouraging people to return materials. This policy change will be considered by the City Council at their June 22 meeting.
Our staff has also developed anti-racist reading lists for those of you wishing to learn more and make a difference. We have lists geared toward adults, teens and families with children that directly link you to items in our catalog that are available to download or place on hold.
We look forward to deep conversations about race at future all staff gatherings, and with you, our community members. While our racial equity work has been in process since late last year, it's clear from current events that the time is now for the Library to take a stronger role in anti-racist actions for the benefit of our community.
Black Lives Matter.
In Solidarity,
Derek Wolfgram
Library Director
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STAY INFORMED
CONTACT US
Our live phone service team are available 10am to 5pm Monday-Friday.
PH: (650) 780-7018, ex. 4
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