ideastatement

I.D.E.A. Statement

Statement

We encourage and empower I.D.E.A.S. at our system headquarters and 33 member libraries; Inclusive, Diverse, Equitable, & Accessible Services. Programs, collections, and services at our system and at our member libraries should both reflect the communities that we serve and offer diverse perspectives. Our libraries are for everyone.

Finger Lakes Library System is committed to advancing social justice, inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility in our collections, programs, hiring practices, and services. We will routinely review our policies, procedures, and organization for bias and will collaborate with our libraries and communities to do the same.

We will identify and share resources that reflect diverse experiences and amplify the voices of BIPOC individuals, the LGBTQ+ community, individuals with disabilities, individuals with neurodiversity, economically disadvantaged, and other historically underrepresented or marginalized communities. Increasing representation in collections, programs, and services ensures that our libraries are safe and welcoming spaces for everyone.

Inclusion, diversity, and accessibility provide more equitable services. This means that in order to achieve equality, we understand that some people may need different amounts of representation and resources to provide them with equal opportunities and access.

Action Steps & Goals

  • Assisting member libraries with collection and organizational IDEA audits.
  • Collaborating with SCRLC and other organizations with the same vision.
  • Commitment to IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility) by system staff.Developing an IDEA toolkit for member libraries.
  • Developing the IDEA committee.
  • Frequently reviewing and updating policies and procedures through an equity lens.
  • Guiding member libraries through an evolving library landscape by providing IDEA-focused consulting and support.
  • Increasing diverse titles and authors in our physical and digital collections, including titles in a variety of non-English languages.
  • Increasing IDEA-related workshops and viewing all programs, collections, hiring practices and services through an equity lens.
  • Providing opportunities for member libraries to meet and discuss books and articles relating to IDEA.
  • Sharing our values in our marketing and promotional efforts.

Glossary of Terms

  • Accessibility/Accessible: “easily used or accessed by people with disabilities: adapted for use by people with disabilities”
  • BIPOC: “Black, Indigenous, (and) People of Color.”
  • Diversity: “the condition of having or being composed of differing elements;” and “especially: the inclusion of people of different races, cultures, etc. in a group or organization”
  • Equity: “The term ‘equity’ refers to fairness and justice and is distinguished from equality: Whereas equality means providing the same to all, equity means recognizing that we do not all start from the same place and must acknowledge and make adjustments to imbalances. The process is ongoing, requiring us to identify and overcome intentional and unintentional barriers arising from bias or systemic structures.” See also: What’s the Difference Between Equity and Equality?
  • Historically Underrepresented: “This term refers to groups who have been denied access and/or suffered past institutional discrimination in the United States and, according to the Census and other federal measuring tools”
  • Marginalized Communities: “those excluded from mainstream social, economic, educational, and/or cultural life. Examples of marginalized populations include, but are not limited to, groups excluded due to race, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical ability, language, and/or immigration status. Marginalization occurs due to unequal power relationships between social groups.”
  • Inclusion: “the act or practice of including and accommodating people who have historically been excluded (as because of their race, gender, sexuality, or ability)”
  • LGBTQ+: “An acronym for “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer” with a “+” sign to recognize the limitless sexual orientations and gender identities used by members of our community.”
  • Neurodiversity: “the concept that differences in brain functioning within the human population are normal and that brain functioning that is not neurotypical should not be stigmatized”
  • Social Justice: “a state or doctrine of egalitarianism;” i.e., “a belief in human equality especially with respect to social, political, and economic affairs”

Approved by the FLLS I.D.E.A. Committee, July 2022.
Updated by the I.D.E.A. Committee, September 2025.
Approved by the FLLS Board of Trustees, November 2025.