Anti-Racism Resources for Our Patrons
In an effort to provide anti-racism resources for our community, Albany Public Library staff compiled a series of lists that feature books, music, and documentaries that explore race and celebrate people of color. The APL staff who put together these lists are predominantly white.
Our goal is to (1) offer resources for white parents on talking to their children about race and racism and (2) provide resources for our communities of color, especially our Black community, that offer them representation and celebrate their stories. Representation is important as it shows Black children that they can have lives as full and rich as the white characters they’re so used to seeing in their media. It also shows white children that other stories matter just as much as their own, and other people are just as worthy of having stories as they are.
APL staff also wish to support our Black community during this time and do what we do best as information professionals: provide clear, accessible information and resources.
All of the titles on the lists are available from the library online. Please click the link next to each book, movie, or music title to be taken to the borrowing page.
Books for elementary and middle schoolers
In addition to the APL lists, Hoopla (a digital library resource that provides titles for streaming and downloading), created a “Conversations About Race” collection, which can be accessed here.
Stephanie Simon
Stephanie Simon is manager of APL's Communication and Creative Services Department, which provides content and information for the library's website, social media, publications, videos, podcasts, and other outlets. Stephanie also manages APL's public relations and marketing efforts.