Indiana Humanities Award Local Libraries Advancing Racial Equity Collection Development Grants

Libraries in Aurora, Lawrenceburg, and Versailles were among the 150 recipients.

(Indianapolis, Ind.) – Indiana libraries, schools, universities, and nonprofits were given grants to purchase books, digital materials, and films addressing racial injustices in the United States. 

"In the wake of the murder of George Floyd and ensuing protests, many libraries were overwhelmed by requests for materials, and library patrons faced long wait times for the most popular books and other resources related to racial equity," says Indiana Humanities. 

Indiana Humanities awarded 150 nonprofit organizations across Indiana Advancing Racial Equity Collection Development Grants to meet this increased demand of materials.

These grants range from $290 to $1,000. 

Local recipients of the Advancing Racial Equity Collection Development Grants include:

• Aurora Public Library District, Aurora, $1,000
• Lawrenceburg Public Library District, Lawrenceburg, $1,000
• Tyson Library Association, Inc., Versailles, $1,000

“It is encouraging to know that so many Hoosiers have turned to literature, history, commentary and other products of the humanities to wrestle with the systemic racism facing our nation,” said Keira Amstutz, president and CEO of Indiana Humanities. “We’re grateful to Lilly Endowment for recognizing this need and providing us with funds to help our state’s libraries address this demand and equip Indiana residents with additional resources that can catalyze and contextualize our conversations."

Indiana Humanities worked with the Indianapolis Public Library (IndyPL) Collection Management Team to develop the list of eligible resources available to the schools, community organizations and libraries that were given grants. 

These organizations were invited to apply to Indiana Humanities for funds to add digital or physical resources addressing systemic racism, inequitable policing and/or protest through a humanities lens.

Additionally, the Central Indiana Community Foundation’s “Tools for Accountability” and resource lists provided by Booklist, a publication of the American Library Association, were consulted.

IndyPL’s Diversity & Inclusion and Center for Black Literature & Culture staff, Indiana Humanities staff and humanities scholars also reviewed this list. 

A $134,264 grant was given to Indiana Humanities by the Lilly Endowment to add books to the Indiana Humanities Novel Conversations statewide lending library. $140,000 was given to IndyPL to purchase titles about racial equity for libraries within its system.

To view the list of materials that could be purchased with the grants, visit https://indianahumanities.org/racialequity.  Shop the booklist here. 

Find the full list of recipients at https://indianahumanities.org/150-indiana-libraries-receive-funds-for-materials-addressing-racial-injustice.