As we approach July 4th, celebrating the birth of a nation founded on the principle that “all men are created equal”, we must recognize that throughout our history this promise of equality has not held true for many of our citizens.
As a member of the American Library Association (ALA), the Stonington Free Library supports the statements of the Black Caucus of the ALA (BCALA) and the ALA Executive Board in condemning both the recent acts of explicit racism as well as the systemic violence and racism towards Black people and all People of Color that is so deeply ingrained in the fabric of our society. SFL stands staunchly against racism and all other forms of systemic oppression, injustice and silent biases.
As a library, we believe that education and dialogue are deeply important in the fight for racial justice, and that libraries are in a unique position to help their communities engage with “the evidence of things not seen”. (James Baldwin, author, poet, activist, black author; from The Evidence of Things Not Seen about the 1979–1981 Atlanta Murders, primarily referred to as the Atlanta Child Murders.)
Our mission as a Free library is to ensure equal access to information, education, and resources to every person who walks through our doors. We believe that this mission can only be fulfilled by recognizing that words are just words until they are put into action.
We will continue to actively seek and provide materials, programs and new ways to build awareness of past injustices and ensure the principles of equality for all. We begin by referring you to these lists of resources on our website, and ask that you stay tuned as additional programs are announced. We welcome your comments and suggestions for additional resources.
