Libraries Working Towards Social Justice
Libraries Working Towards Social Justice formed in 2020 to expand our programming efforts beyond our individual communities to achieve a more equitable, diverse and inclusive society. The libraries include Andover, Burlington, Chelmsford, Groton, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Methuen, Newton, North Andover, North Reading, Peabody, Pepperell, Tewksbury, Westford and Wilmington. The Town of Andover has created Andover DIVERSE to focus on advancing community-driven initiatives aimed at building a more diverse and inclusive Andover. A Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion was appointed in March 2021 by the Select Board.
In addition to its partnership with Courageous Conversations, which began in 2016, the Library is collaborating with other public libraries in the Merrimack Valley and beyond to bring virtual social justice programming to a wider audience. For a list of LWTSJ upcoming events visit this page.
Unless otherwise noted, these resources were not created by Memorial Hall Library staff nor are they hosted on MHL's website, but they are sources that we consider to be of good quality. This list is by no means exhaustive. We attempt to prioritize local resources as well as resources created by Black and brown voices. We invite you to join us on this journey and to send your book and resource recommendations to rdesk@mhl.org. We'll update these lists over time.
Memorial Hall Library staff members have formed an Inclusivity Committee. Read more about it here.
Indigenous Peoples - An Evolving List of Resources
- Memoirs for Indigenous Peoples' Day
- Be Antiracist Ibram Kendi Podcast - Repairing the Past: Returning Native Land
- If You Lived During the Plimoth Thanksgiving by Chris Newell, (Children's book ages 7-10)
- Return the National Parks to the Tribes, The Atlantic, May 2021
- Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness
- 21-Day Racial Equity Indigenous Challenge
Book Lists Curated by MHL
- Racism Against Asians and Asian Americans Book Lists & Resources
- Poetry by Black Writers
- Historical Fiction for Black History Month
- Black History Month 2021
- Latinx Sci-Fi & Fantasy
- 2020 Pura Belpré Awards
- Remembering John Lewis, 1940-2020
- A Racial Justice Reading List
- Racial Justice Books for Tweens & Teens
- Picture Books of Black Joy
- Juneteenth
Other Book Lists
- Diverse BookFinder
- The Brown Bookshelf
- Baratunde Thurston List
- Ibram X. Kendi Antiracist Reading List
Merrimack Valley Organizations & Initiatives
- The African Community Center of Lowell
- Andover Area Solidarity Group
- Elevated Thought
- Greater Lawrence Education Justice Alliance
- Lowell RISE Coalition
- Merrimack Valley Black and Brown Voices
- Merrimack Valley Project
- Merrimack Valley Shows Up For Social and Racial Justice
- Merrimack Valley Social Justice
- Solidarity Lowell
- Statement from the Andover Select Board
- The Dream Network
- We Are Lawrence/Somos Lawrence
Watch Lists
- Antiracism Defined - Ibram X. Kendi TED YouTube Interview
- TED Talks to help you understand racism in America
Podcasts
Articles & Reports
- Equal Justice Initiative - Race and the Jury: Illegal Discrimination in Jury Selection
- Equal Justice Initiative - Reconstruction in America Report
- The Case for Reparations - The Atlantic
Resource Guides & Research
- Boston University Center for Antiracist Research
- Learning for Justice
- National Museum of African American History & Culture - Talking About Race
- Anti-racism Resource Guide compiled by Tasha K. Ryals
- Antiracism Resources for White People compiled by Sarah Sophie Flicker, Alyssa Klein in May 2020
- 2021 Anti-racist Roadmap created by Kate Slater, a White anti-racist scholar and educator
- 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge
- Debby Irving - Resources for Educators, Librarians, and Parents
- Merrimack College McQuade Library Antiracism Resources