The story of the Chatham Area Public Library’s Libraries Transforming Communities Grant began with recognition of Chatham's growing diversity. Libraries are spaces to engage in and explore ideas of importance, and Library-led community discussions and surveys brought to light the community's desire to see the Library diversify its collections and offerings in order to proactively help, as one survey respondent stated, "educate the community and ease the transition" of the "rapidly changing" community. With this feedback and the acknowledgement that the events of 2020 surrounding racial injustice could not go ignored, the Library sought to use the grant funds to begin conversations in and with the community around race and social justice issues. Each conversation was anchored in film viewings and discussions of the documentary Driving While Black: Race, Space, and Mobility in America, a film based on Gretchin Sorin's book Driving While Black: African American Travel and the Road to Civil Rights.
The Library held three viewings and discussions; one with Library staff, one in partnership with Glenwood High School’s Social Justice Club, and one community-wide event. Over thirty people participated in the viewings and discussions, and nearly one hundred percent of the participants who completed evaluation surveys said that they would take part in similar events in the future.
Feedback on the surveys revealed the desire of participants to learn more and continue having such conversations in the future. For example, respondents wrote:
- “I was unaware of so much history that they discussed in the film”
- “[I] was unaware of almost all the topics talked about in the film”
- “The experience was eye-opening. I learned more than I expected going into the event. I was especially humbled to hear the stories of my fellow students who experience the effects of racism and other forms of discrimination”,
- “This work is so important for our community, and I am hopeful the Library’s involvement can help bring together civic groups, Village leadership, the Chamber the School District to work toward a more inclusive Chatham."
The surveys also reflected that participants would be interested in a “monthly event where participants watch a documentary film...and then meet up to discuss it.” In response to this request, the Library used some of the grant funding to begin creating Film Discussion Kits. Each Kit will focus on a different social justice issue and will come with a discussion guide; the hope with the Kits is to empower community members to get together, watch, and discuss. The Library plans to have the Kits ready for circulation before the end of 2021.
As the Library wraps up its final chapter of the grant - reflections and reporting - the feedback shared is being examined with the goal of it impacting future Library planning. Participants expressed interest in having community conversations about mental health resources, diversity and inclusion in the Chatham community, climate and environmental topics, and the various impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on community members. The Library hopes to work on building partnerships with local experts and organizations to help make those conversations a reality.