Chatham Student Creates 'Acceptance Library' In Local Coffee Shop

CHATHAM, NJ - Promoting tolerance and acceptance through the power of literature is the goal of the new Acceptance Library set up by Chatham High School junior Nishika Agarwal at DRIP Coffee.

"The world is changing, and our community only continues to grow in its diversity. Sadly, such change isn’t always welcome- it’s often met with hate and ostracization. A means to battle such negativity is through the promotion of acceptance and tolerance, ultimately proving that diversity does not separate us from one another," Agarwal said. "Unfortunately, the media and other means of wide-spread entertainment doesn't fully represent a great variety of diverse backgrounds, especially across all age groups. Therefore, I wanted to compile a large collection of books that showcase characters and story-lines of diverse backgrounds."

According to Agarwal, the goal of the Acceptance Library is to promote tolerance and acceptance through the power of literature.

"The library is for those wishing to see themselves in tales of love, hardship, fearlessness, heartbreak, but invariantly in heroes that prevail," Agarwal said. "The library is also for those looking for a greater understanding of the different people who make up our community, and those wishing to gain more exposure to the beautiful diversity gifted to us."

The Library is divided into two distinctive sections: one for young children and the other for teenagers/young adults. The purpose, according to Agarwal is to appeal to all age groups and show that acceptance has no age restriction.

The Acceptance Library features books showcasing characters of a variety of different backgrounds and experiences. A few examples are the LGBTQ+ community, racial/ethnic diversity, and individuals dealing with chronic illnesses.

BOOKS INCLUDE:

• Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower
• This Star Won’t Go Out
• This Book is Gay
• Legend
• This Little Trailblazer
• All Are Welcome
• Right Now

Within each book is a bookmark with a written description of what makes each book so special.

"I had begun this project last August- I traveled to Barnes & Noble and purchased the books myself, and included a few from my personal library at home. My intention was to establish the project in a local coffee shop: a populous yet tranquil location for individuals to enjoy their morning coffee with exposure to a variety of books they may not typically come across, invoking curiosity and hopefully the reading of said books," Agarwal said. "I was originally in contact with another coffee shop before DRIP Coffee, however over months of prolonged email threads and the exchange of phone calls I realized my vision was not being entertained. Thus, I decided to give DRIP Coffee a shot and was ultimately very pleased with my decision. DRIP Coffee was happy to hear my vision, worked with me right away to entertain it, and overall was wonderful to work with. Best of all, the shop is located in the heart of Chatham, where adults, teens, and children all come to visit."

The Acceptance Library can be found upon the counter-top in DRIP's second seating room. DRIP is located at 262 Main Street.

A website is set up for the Library where one could go to find more information regarding the goal/purpose of the library, provide suggestions/ask questions, inquire about donating a book, and find our contact information. The library can be contacted at acceptancelibrary@gmail.com.

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