Nationally, Asian and Pacific Islander communities have been deeply impacted by malicious attacks. The Metropolitan Library System (MLS) condemns hate in all forms regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, or ability.
Libraries provide safe places for all community members and that safe place in our community is more important now than ever before. We are committed to working with our communities to create safe spaces for free thought, exploration, and enrichment. In providing a safe place, MLS stands in solidarity with our Asian and Pacific Islander communities, and we stand with the American Library Association (ALA) and Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) in recognizing and strongly condemning the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes that have permeated our country over the past year.
To our Asian and Pacific Islander communities, please know that we see you and we stand with you. We want you to feel safe and supported at your MLS libraries.
Words alone are never enough when members of our communities are hurting. Because of this, we as an organization have created a set of core values that will guide how we provide service to the numerous communities that make up our county. One of these values is a commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion within our operations, services, and collections. Additionally, MLS is making resources available (online and in our libraries) to aid our customers in understanding and supporting their community members. We encourage you to make use of these resources in the best way for you to understand and support other community members during this challenging time.
We believe true community comes from when all people belong. Your Metropolitan Library System libraries are places where everyone belongs.
Sincerely,
Larry White, PhD, MSLS
Executive Director
Metropolitan Library System