Inclusive Services Update

July is already moving so fast. Hopefully, you are able to enjoy what the month and the weather has to offer. Keep being excellent to each other! ~Sherry

Resources:

• Lambda Literary announces 2021 winners Lambda Literary Award submissions are judged principally on literary merit and content relevant to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer lives.

Continuing Education:

• Leading Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Through Collection Analysis and Development – 4pm on Wednesday, July 21

• Using Courage to Confront Bias – 1pm on Thursday, July 22 [no registration required]

• Accessibility Features in Microsoft – Noon on Tuesday, July 27

Consumables:

• Why We Need Diverse Books Is No Longer Using the Term #OwnVoices

• ‘The demonization of people’ or historical record: Should racist literature be removed from public spaces?

• Serving the Community at All Times: Cultural inclusivity programming during a pandemic

• Inclusive Media: Making online videos accessible for all patrons

• Libraries and the Law: Legal column addresses timely concerns

• Ask, Listen, Empower: Ethical and inclusive community engagement

• What Does It Take? Examining the skills needed to reach nondominant youth and families

• Low-Vision Accessibility: Products for outreach to those with visual disabilities

• Lego introduces new set for Pride ‘Everyone is Awesome’

• Nintendo responds to kid’s request for nonbinary Pokémon

Diverse Holidays in July:

July is Disability Pride Month. In 2015, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio declared July Disability Pride Month in celebration of the ADA’s 25th anniversary. The month is a chance to honor each person’s uniqueness as “a natural and beautiful part of human diversity,” according to America’s Disability Community. The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990, a landmark law that prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities. In that same year, Boston held the first Disability Pride Day. Although Disability Pride Day isn’t nationally recognized, parades are held in a number of places nationwide, such as Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, San Antonio and more. Librarians Unite has a free printable poster to raise awareness.

July 14: International Non-Binary People’s Day, aimed at raising awareness and organizing around the issues faced by non-binary people around the world while celebrating their contributions.

July 18: Nelson Mandela International Day, launched on July 18, 2009, in recognition of Nelson Mandela’s birthday via unanimous decision of the U.N. General Assembly. It was inspired by a call Nelson Mandela made a year earlier for the next generation to take on the burden of leadership in addressing the world’s social injustices: “It is in your hands now.” It is more than a celebration of Mandela’s life and legacy; it is a global movement to honor his life’s work and to change the world for the better.

July 26: Disability Independence Day, celebrating the anniversary of the 1990 signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

July 30: International Day of Friendship, proclaimed in 2011 by the U.N. General Assembly with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities.