Quality Principles & Indicators
How do we know if our library embraces equitable summer services? Building Equity-Based Summers’ Quality Principles and Indicators (QP&I) help us to answer that question. They are our calls to action. They inspire change, help us set clear goals, and take the mystery out of assessing our equity-focused efforts. When woven together these principles are the foundational fabric of all equitable libraries.
Our learning sessions cover the deep details of the principles and how to apply them.
Begin with any of our four principles. Acknowledge that equity work requires ongoing iteration and is not a box to be checked off. Recognize that each of our principles connects and bulilds on others. Find a place to start!
Now equity is forefront in my mind when planning summer, which is a great start, but I know that this will be an ongoing evolving process.
Summer services are designed & implemented with community voices
Indicators:
- Systemically marginalized community members are actively engaged as co-designers in all aspects of summer services including design, implementation, assessment, and evaluation
- The summer program expands and harnesses trusted relationships across the community. Library staff trust and empower partners to take center stage.
- The summer program celebrates systemically marginalized community member interests and assets
Summer services expand opportunities for learning and connection
Indicators:
- Summer services and experiences focus on learning about self by relating to others and to the world
- Multiple formats for learning are encouraged and include text-based, multimedia, mentors and coaches, and group and individual activities
- Summer provides opportunities for access to quality literacy and enrichment activities to systemically marginalized youth and families
Summer services decision-making processes are embedded in an equity-based community mindset
Indicators:
- A diverse set of staff voices are integrated into the design and implementation of summer services
- Ongoing professional development provides all staff with an understanding of the “why” of equity-based summer services
- Funding and staff resources provided for summer services are centered on meeting the needs of systemically marginalized youth and families
- Library staff working on summer services actively inform and engage with administrators and managers
Summer services actively engages systemically marginalized youth, families, and communities
Indicators:
- Multiple methods of participation are encouraged and include sites outside of the library
- Summer services are hosted and facilitated by community members, organizations, and stakeholders
- Library staff acknowledge and actively work to overcome barriers to participation including internal policies, job descriptions, structures and systems, and external factors such transportation and family structures
Could BEBS impact more of your community? Join our free learning sessions to begin the change.
