Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The library is for all. Serving everyone requires additional resources to overcome historic inequities. The Foundation works to fund a more equitable library system and society.
(Read in Spanish / Leer en español)
Institutions like libraries and philanthropic organizations have played a role in creating societal inequities. We have the obligation – and the opportunity – to address past and present harms. The Foundation must ensure that the library has the resources it needs to help remove barriers caused by systemic racism, poverty, ableism, ageism, lack of language access, and other factors.
To support these goals, the Foundation has made significant internal investments in DEI following an action plan adopted in 2020. We seek to center DEI in our culture and practice, and integrate DEI into every policy and procedure. This past year, we:
- Worked with SPL to develop, fund, and staff a new Director of Inclusion and Belonging position that will lead equity efforts across the library system.
- Continued to use an equity lens to guide our recruitment and hiring processes for open staff positions, ensuring opportunities and fair treatment for a wide variety of candidates.
At the library, most of what Foundation donors currently fund has a direct equity focus. Many programs are designed with or prioritized by members of communities impacted by racial, social, educational, economic, and other injustices. Some examples include:
Empowering immigrants and refugees
Why: Barriers to education for English language learners are on the rise. Demand for classes has increased as Seattle’s foreign-born population continues to grow, but funding has not kept up. This comes in a climate where immigrants and refugees feel increased discrimination and threats to their safety.
What we support: The Foundation secured a major new grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York to nearly double the number of English language learning programs over the next two years. The grant expands existing donor-supported programs such as English Conversation Circles, adult tutoring, and digital skills classes. The expansion adds more free classes, locations, and levels of learning at trusted library locations.
Expanding access to diverse collections
Why: Everyone should be able to read what they want. But because stories by and about people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and others have been suppressed and censored, they often require more resources to acquire and make available.
What we support: Foundation funding provides significant support for the library’s Unique Collections, emphasizing the addition of historic materials that better reflect the diverse communities of Seattle. Donors also help add thousands of books to the library every year, including titles in multiple languages, formats like read-along books, and to teens facing access barriers through Books Unbanned.
Supporting people of all abilities
Why: Library spaces should be inviting, inclusive, and accessible for everyone. But often, families with disabilities or neurodivergence can find it difficult to enjoy public spaces due to noise or sensory overload. Some patrons with disabilities require additional resources and assistance to utilize the free programs and tools available at the library.
What we support: The Foundation funds programs that make the library more accessible. The Library Equal Access Program (LEAP) provides assistive technology at the Central Library and across the system. All Abilities programming, such as story time and music programs for children, make communal experiences fun and accessible for kids with sensory sensitivities. Sensory Kits are also available at all branches. The Foundation also funded the library’s first Sensory Wall at the Northeast Branch in 2025.
The work is ongoing. While we have much more learning and acting to do, the Foundation’s internal and external efforts reflect our commitment to creating a more equitable organization, library system, and society.
This statement was first published in November 2023 and is updated annually to reflect our organization’s progress on DEI efforts. It was last updated in November 2025. To provide feedback on the statement, please contact us at foundation [at] supportspl [dot] org.