Racial Literacy in Libraries

Betsy Bird is the Collection Development Manager of Evanston Public Library, Illinois, USA, and the former Youth Materials Specialist of New York Public Library. She has served on her library’s EDI committee for four years. She co-presents on The Whole Book Approach, a holistic consideration of collections beyond equity assessments, at the LJ/SLJ workshop “How To Build and Defend Inclusive Collections.” She is the author of Children’s Literature Gems: Choosing and Using Them in Your Library Career.

Nicole A. Cooke, PhD, MEd, MLS, is the Augusta Baker Endowed Chair and an Associate Professor at the School of Library and Information Science at the University of South Carolina, USA.

Kennedy Joseph is the Teen Engagement Coordinator at the Evanston Public Library, Illinois, USA. Kennedy creates engaging opportunities that foster leadership and creativity among young people. With a commitment to creating a supportive and fun environment, Kennedy is dedicated to helping young people discover their potential and become lifelong library enthusiasts.

Jessica Iverson Wu is a Children’s and STEM Focus Library Assistant at Evanston Public Library, Illinois, USA. She has created and co-led DEI-informed programs for toddlers through adults, but in her current role primarily focuses on grades 3–5. She served on EPL's DEI committee for four years and received facilitator training through Dr. Logan Consulting to support co-leading staff DEI discussions. She writes from the perspective of a white, cis, bi woman with ADHD.