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Cultural Resource Center Virtual Programs

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Cultural Resource Center Virtual Programs

LA County Library, Calif.

Education - Children & Adults | 2020

Innovation Synopsis

LA County Library’s Cultural Resource Center Librarians, who are subject matter experts, create new systemwide virtual programs that are responsive to the current climate. These educational programs allow the library to build bridges and deepen its commitment to creating a safe space for community conversations around diversity and inclusion.

Challenge/Opportunity

The library’s four Cultural Resource Centers (CRCs) — Black, Chicano, Asian Pacific American and American Indian — focus on heritage, historical archives and current issues affecting these communities. Housed inside libraries, CRCs typically host programs or serve as research centers. Committed to breaking down barriers, the library saw a need to deepen these efforts, using CRC Librarians’ knowledge and community connections for virtual programs, creating opportunities for people to learn about themselves and one another.


Key Elements of Innovation

As Virtual Programming team members, Cultural Resource Center Librarians create programs specific to each community, while highlighting often overlooked yet important history, stories or art forms to a wider audience. The Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Film Festival featured streaming films by or about Asian Pacific Islanders. A Chicano Moratorium 50th Anniversary interview illuminated a historic event’s impact. The Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians discussed their history and culture live on Webex.


Achieved Outcomes

Adapting local programs into virtual events along with activities, equity booklists and resource lists offers multiple entry points to complex issues surrounding diversity and inclusivity. Accessed regularly by customers who have voiced their appreciation for bringing cultural content to the forefront, the initial launch of these programs had over 6,600 views/participants. Upcoming programs include a historic California letter transcription project and a reading of a Tongva creation story for Indigenous People’s Day.