Equity & Inclusion
You Belong
You belong at the San José Public Library. We commit to providing a welcoming and safe environment for all.
Our Principles
We follow the principles of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism:
- Equity: We recognize each person is unique and with different needs. We strive to provide everyone with what they need to succeed.
- Diversity: We see and try to understand our differences. This includes: race/ethnicity, language, abilities, age, gender, sexual orientation and other traits. It also includes different ideas, views and values.
- Inclusion: Everyone belongs at SJPL. We value the uniqueness of each person. We support building connections with each other. We commit to remove barriers to our resources and services.
- Anti-racism: We work to eliminate policies and practices that unfairly impact Black, Indigenous, Latino/a/x, Asian, and Pacific Islander communities and other Communities of Color. We must actively work to fight against racism. This includes recognizing personal biases and learning how to overcome them.
Defining Racial Equity
On February 1, 2022, San José City Council approved the following definition for Racial Equity:
Both a process and an outcome, racial equity is designed to center anti-racism, eliminate systemic racial inequities, and rooted in the acknowledgement of the City of San José’s historical and existing practices that have led to discrimination and injustices to Black, Indigenous, Latino/a/x, Asian, and Pacific Islander communities.
The racial equity process is an explicit, intentional, and continual practice of prioritizing psychologically safe spaces and a sense of belonging for racial groups that have been most negatively impacted in policies and practices. It is action that prioritizes liberation and measurable change, and centers lived experiences of all impacted racial groups.
As an outcome, racial equity is achieved when race can no longer be used to predict life outcomes, and everyone can prosper and thrive.
Learn More
To learn more about SJPL’s efforts to advance Equity and Inclusion, contact Karla Alvarez, Community Programs Administrator for Equity and Inclusion Services at karla.alvarez@sjlibrary.org.
Have a Suggestion for How to Build a Better Library for You?
Menu Cards
