Our libraries welcome everyone

The leaders of the member libraries comprising Chemeketa Cooperative Regional Library Services (CCRLS) are committed to anti-racism.

Our libraries welcome everyone. As library leaders, we particularly condemn the systemic racism which adversely affects the lives of Black, Indigenous , and People of Color. Such prejudice is antithetical to the institutional values of our libraries. We are committed to fighting racism wherever we find it in ourselves and our communities. In doing so we reaffirm that our libraries are:

  • places of learning and gathering for the entire community
  • safe places to explore and celebrate our differences and similarities
  • supporters of intellectual freedom and the right of assembly. 

We acknowledge that no institution is free of bias, and that it is our responsibility to look deeply at our own libraries and actively strive towards justice for all who live in our communities. We stand with ALA and our library colleagues across the country in condemning violence and racism.

To encourage awareness in ourselves and in our communities, the CCRLS member libraries encourage exploration of anti-racism activism, police violence in the United States, and related topics by starting with our online catalog of books and electronic resources