[Libs-Or] We Must Do Better

Thu Nov 17 16:55:00 PST 2022

Dear Library Community of Oregon-and especially to those in leadership positions-

I'm also writing to add to the support for the recent OLA Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Antiracism Committee's Statement Calling for Meaningful Support for BIPOC Library Workers.<https://ola.memberclicks.net/assets/Communications/2022-23_communications/OLA%20EDIA%20Committee%20Statement%20Calling%20for%20Meaningful%20Support%20for%20BIPOC%20Library%20Workers.pdf>

Here's why I find the statement particularly profound and useful as a tool for the work of being a leader with an EDIA mindset:

  *   So many of us ask for lists to accomplish difficult tasks. This statement includes just such a list. (Look at page 2. And then read it again and again.)
  *   We ask for how to create an equity lens for our work and our organizations. This statement walks us through questions and prompts to apply such a lens to how we support staff.
  *   Our profession is looking deep into trauma-informed service for our patrons and this statement shows us we must look deep into trauma-informed care and support for our staff.
I invite you to share this with leaders in your libraries and beyond libraries, with HR staff, with EDIA advocates, and those who are new to the work. I also invite dialogue and continued check-ins on this call for support and action because it's not always easy to systemic oppression that is part of the very fabric of our workplace cultures and structures.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone on the OLA Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Antiracism Committee for showing us a path to seeing more clearly and doing better, to Ericka Brunson-Rochette and Meredith Farkas for your work on the committee as co-Chairs, to the entire EDIA Committee, to OLA President Star Khan for sharing the statement broadly, and to Matthew Baiocchi for this message yesterday.

With appreciation,

Adrienne Doman Calkins (she/her/hers)
Library Manager, Sherwood Public Library
22560 SW Pine Street, Sherwood, OR 97140
503-625-4272  |  domancalkinsa at sherwoodoregon.gov<mailto:domancalkinsa at sherwoodoregon.gov>
www.sherwoodoregon.gov/library<http://www.sherwoodoregon.gov/library>  |  Monthly e-newsletter<https://www.libraryaware.com/1690/Subscribers/Subscribe?showonlynewsletterlists=true>
A member library of Washington County Cooperative Library Services

From: Libs-Or <libs-or-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> On Behalf Of Matthew Baiocchi via Libs-Or
Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2022 5:35 PM
To: libs-or at omls.oregon.gov
Subject: [Libs-Or] We Must Do Better

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you are expecting this email and/or know the content is safe.

Please take a moment to read this statement then share it widely, Calling for Meaningful Support for BIPOC Library Workers: https://ola.memberclicks.net/assets/Communications/2022-23_communications/OLA%20EDIA%20Committee%20Statement%20Calling%20for%20Meaningful%20Support%20for%20BIPOC%20Library%20Workers.pdf<https://ola.memberclicks.net/assets/Communications/2022-23_communications/OLA%20EDIA%20Committee%20Statement%20Calling%20for%20Meaningful%20Support%20for%20BIPOC%20Library%20Workers.pdf>

Our BIPOC colleagues are hurting. Every day they work in a system designed to oppress them. We - me and you - are part of that system. You may not be racist but you are part of a racist system, a system that, daily, hurts and kills and murders BIPOC simply for existing.

There are, of course, many more examples of systemic racism than the ones listed below - incarceration rates, judicial sentencing, and food insecurity to name just a few. We must listen to the facts and our BIPOC colleagues. We must listen to them then make systemic change, because every day we don't BIPOC people hurt and BIPOC people die.

- The typical white American family has roughly 10 times as much wealth as  the typical African American family and the typical Latino family. (https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/06/racial-wealth-gap-may-be-a-key-to-other-inequities/<https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/06/racial-wealth-gap-may-be-a-key-to-other-inequities/>)

- Black men are about 2.5 times more likely to be killed by police than white men. (https://news.umich.edu/police-sixth-leading-cause-of-death-for-young-black-men/<https://news.umich.edu/police-sixth-leading-cause-of-death-for-young-black-men/>)

- Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. Black infants die at about twice the rate of white infants. (https://graphics.reuters.com/GLOBAL-RACE/USA/nmopajawjva/<https://graphics.reuters.com/GLOBAL-RACE/USA/nmopajawjva/>)

- In 2021, nearly 20% of Black individuals experienced food insecurity - more than three times the rate of white households. (https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/african-american<https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/african-american>)

- Black Americans...post a homeownership rate of 46.4% compared to 75.8% of white families. Compounding matters, homes in predominately Black neighborhoods across the country are valued at $48,000 less than predominately white  neighborhoods for a cumulative loss in equity of approximately $156 billion. (https://www.brookings.edu/essay/homeownership-racial-segregation-and-policies-for-racial-wealth-equity/<https://www.brookings.edu/essay/homeownership-racial-segregation-and-policies-for-racial-wealth-equity/>)

Matthew Baiocchi
REFERENCE LIBRARIAN
__

City of Lincoln City  |  Driftwood Public Library
801 SW Hwy 101  |  PO Box 50  |  Lincoln City, OR
P: 541.996.1261  |  E: mbaiocchi at lincolncity.org<mailto:mbaiocchi at lincolncity.org>
W: Driftwoodlib.org | W: LincolnCity.org

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