New Program to Increase Diverse Books in Dedham Little Free Libraries

DEDHAM, MA. - Dedham Library Innovation Team (DLIT) and the Dedham Coalition for Equity and Inclusion (DCEI) have announced a partnership to launch the “Read In Color: Dedham'' initiative, which will add books to DLIT’s dozen Little Free Libraries across Dedham that provide perspectives on racism and social justice; celebrate BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and other diverse voices; and incorporate experiences from all identities for all readers.

The program is part of the national Little Free Library Read in Color® initiative, which encourages communities to increase the number of culturally relevant, diverse books, with recommended reading lists representing Black, Asian American, Indigenous, Latinx, Muslim, LGBTQ+ and other communities.

As the national Read In Color® program notes, “We believe everyone should be able to see themselves in the pages of a book. We also know that books can be a window into experiences that are different from our own. By reading diverse books, we can increase understanding, empathy, and inclusion.”

DCEI will be joining DLIT to unveil the Read In Color® initiative at the Dedham Reads Together (DRT22) Gala event on Saturday, May 14th, which is the culminating, community celebration of the 2-month long Book Feast town-wide read. The DRT22 Book Feast program features food-focused books for each age range (preschool through adult) that support the initiative’s theme of “bridging cultures and building community with the common language of food.”

The event will be hosted at the Endicott Branch Library at 257 Mount Vernon Street. A portion of the event’s proceeds will be used to buy diverse books to add to the dozen libraries that have been installed across Dedham over the past decade.

Gala tickets are $45 in advance via BookFeastGala.Eventbrite.com or $50 at the door. The ticket includes a meal by Boston Magazine’s Best Food Truck winner Jamaica Mi Hungry, an internationally-inspired dessert buffet, music and dancing, and a cash bar. Tickets may also be reserved at the advance price by emailing dlit.team@gmail.com. Along with supporting the Read In Color: Dedham program, proceeds from this event will also be used for grants to the school libraries and public libraries for technology, innovative programming, and materials to support literacy and learning.

DLIT’s Paul Reynolds shares, “This year’s Dedham Reads Together program celebrates diversity and community through food & stories, so partnering with DCEI to help fill our dozen Little Free Libraries with diverse books throughout the year is really a perfect match.”

Sari Chait, a leader of DCEI’s Community Outreach Working Group shares, “DCEI is committed to moving Dedham forward in our work towards equity and inclusion for all members of the Dedham community. Books provide a way for people to learn about the perspectives of others, as well as to feel validated, seen, and appreciated when one’s own personal experience is reflected. We are excited to partner with DLIT to help increase access to diverse books for children and adults across Dedham.”

Formerly known as the Anti-Racism Coalition of Dedham, the Dedham Coalition for Equity and Inclusion (DCEI) is a community collective made up of over 1.3k members that was founded during the summer of 2020. DCEI’s mission is to empower and give voice to underrepresented members of our community and to stand up for racial equity.

Launched in 2010, Dedham Library Innovation Team (DLIT) is an award-winning, 501c3 non-profit committed to supporting the strategic vision & development of a best-in-class, vibrant public & school library system in Dedham. To that end, DLIT is committed to creating collaborative, positive partnerships between the libraries, schools, and community in order to support literacy and innovation in the town’s libraries, schools, and neighborhoods. Along with the annual Dedham Reads Together program, DLIT has also been responsible for other initiatives to support the libraries, including the Dedham Little Free Libraries Project.

DLIT’s Little Free Libraries, installed in twelve locations across Dedham, look like decorated mailboxes with hinged doors. Residents are encouraged to "give a book or take a book" from these little libraries. The unique artwork on each little library has served as a vibrant public art project, representing a broad range of Dedham's history and arts - including Dedham Pottery and the Norfolk Tavern. DLIT's Dedham Little Free Library Project is an officially chartered member of the national Little Free Libraries initiative, which numbers over 100,000 little libraries in 108 countries. The libraries serve all ages from children to seniors. Use of the libraries is free - and books are all donated by the community.

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