We talk with Cindy Khatri, Public Relations Manager, and Van McGary, Adult and Teen Services Assistant Manager, Downers Grove (IL) Public Library (DGPL) about the Anti-Hate Statements that the library releases in response to current events. The library believes that through the use of Anti-Hate Statements they are openly condemning hate and violence against historically marginalized groups. So Far, DGPL has released the following Anti-Hate Statements:
12/20/2021: From the Board of Library Trustees and Director: A Statement in Solidarity of the LGBTQ+ Community
6/10/2021: From the Board of Library Trustees and Director: A Message Against Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia
4/16/2021: From the Director: An Updated Message in Support of Black and Brown Lives
3/24/2021: From the Board of Library Trustees: A Message on Anti-Asian Racism
6/2/2020: From the Director: A Message on Anti-Racism and Free Speech
You can see the statements and read more about the library's EDISJ efforts at
https://dglibrary.org/edi/. Khatri and McGary will also present a program at the upcoming PLA conference (PLA 2022) on this topic. More info at
www.placonference.org.