Howard County Libraries Open New Equity Resource Center About Racism, Culture, & History
The Howard County Library System on Monday unveiled a new Equity Resource Center and exhibit at the Central Branch in Columbia. The center houses a new equity collection of more than 9,000 fiction and nonfiction titles, featuring selections with themes such as the criminal justice system, emancipation, immigration and policing, according to a news release from the library system. The center, which was unveiled Monday afternoon before a crowd of community partners, also features the “Undesign the Redline” exhibit, which focuses on “redlining,” or the denial of services to residents of specific, often racially associated, communities or neighborhoods. The center aims to provide a space to educate community members on the experiences of people of different backgrounds and cultures, the library system said.
The Equity Resource Center is located on the second floor of the Central Branch at 10375 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia. It also will show stories received through the Brave Voices Brave Choices initiative that started earlier this year. Community members are invited to reflect on personal experiences related to racism and discrimination by contributing stories through the library system’s website.
When there is not a formal library program, class or event in the space, residents are welcome to use the space informally, the release states.
People can tour the exhibit on their own, arrange private tours by emailing redline@hclibrary.org or registering for public tours at 11 a.m. Wednesdays and 2 p.m. Saturdays.
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Source: Allana Haynes, Baltimore Sun, September 28, 2021.
