EDI Committee History

The NHLA EDI Committee was created in the summer of 2020, in the memory of George Floyd, who was murdered at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis, MN on May 25, 2020, and in memory of the people of color in the United States who have suffered injustice, violence, and countless indignities, the NHLA recognizes that the time has come to say "enough."

The NHLA Board stands in support of the statement of our colleagues of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association who wrote,

"It is necessary for the membership to be proactive not only when someone in our community is harmed, but preventative in anticipating historically sanctioned violence by participating in local efforts to counter racism and violence against Black men and women. The systemic machinery of racism does not sleep and neither should we in our efforts to counter it."

While they refer to the membership of BCALA, we extend this challenge to end racism in our libraries and in our communities as expressed in our Statement Calling for Action to End Racism, June 2020. 

Although the murder of George Floyd was the catalyst for the formation of this Committee, the Committee promptly expanded our purpose to promote fair treatment and full participation of all people, especially populations that have historically been underrepresented or subject to discrimination because of their background, identity, disability, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

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Join the EDI Committee

Join the EDI Committee to receive our newsletter. We meet virtually on the first Thursday of the month at 1 pm. Email Committee Chair, Melissa Mannon for information.

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