Equity & Inclusion
Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
The library is more than a place for books. It's a place for our students, which means that we are commited to making the library a judgment-free zone that fosters inclusivity. Part of that commitment includes maintaining a collection of high quality diverse books that reflect our student body and provide resources that support an equity-minded curriculum.
Our Collections
Our collection development policy contains steps toward a strong and dynamic inclusion of diverse titles, both fiction and non-fiction. These steps include:
Using Titlewave.com to regularly audit our collection data, including subject tags and awards in the genres of social justice and diversity
Ordering books in a variety of languages, including bilingual (side-by-side) texts
Partnering with local public library systems in providing access to resources and filling in any gaps
Our Programs
Our team of MDUSD librarians strive to create fun, engaging, and dynamic programming for our students. We draw from several resources that inform our diversity, equity, and inclusion practices:
TeachingTolerance.org
Common Sense Media
American Library Association Advocacy Toolbox
Curriculum Support
In addition to offering title and resource help to our teachers, we help map those titles to standards within our curriculum. This has become especially important as we navigate recent events and strive to co-create curriculum that is reflective of our values as anti-racist educators.
Our commitment to inclusion also involves digital equity, which means that we are constantly looking for ways to connect our students to digital resources and equipment. Whether that means supplying our students with Chromebooks, creating a multi-functional workspace with printers and project supplies, or creating pathways for our students to connect to online learning regardless of their digital access, we are here to make sure that all students have equitable access to what they need to succeed.