Resolution 2024-10 - NLS Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Searches

Resolution 2024-10 - NLS Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Searches

Submitted by Cheryl Cumings on behalf of the ACB Multicultural Affairs Committee

Whereas, public library patrons are able to search for books by authors of specific racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds that explore topics and experiences specific to them in multiple genres; and

Whereas, there is no comparable ability for National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) patrons to search for books in this manner; and

Whereas, the 2023 Report from the Education Trust and the 2020 Oakland University Study on the Impact of Reading Culturally Relevant Books demonstrates the positive impact of reading books which reflect the reader's ethnic, racial and cultural background; and

Whereas, it is important to encourage reading among NLS patrons by enabling them to easily search and identify books which represent their racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, written by authors from those unique perspectives;

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled virtually that this organization will ask NLS to identify a process by which library patrons will be able to easily search for books by authors of specific racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, by topic, and by genre; and will also ask NLS to report progress at ACB’s 2025 national convention.

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