Indianapolis Public Library Board Faces Community After Racism Accusations

Indianapolis Public Library Board Faces Community After Racism Accusations The board of the indianapolis public library is facing continued scrutiny over charges of racism and non inclusive policies. Instead, it has sparked new divides, new mistrust and new concerns of racial inequity, indystar has found after speaking to 19 people involved in the library, including current and former staff.

Indianapolis Public Library Board Faces Community After Racism Accusations Former and current employees have described racism, ableism and sexual harassment from library workers and leadership. during a virtual board meeting may 24, former library employee bree. After nearly a year of accusations of racism, sexism and bigotry, the indianapolis public library hired a law firm to investigate. the 94 page climate report shares insights into employee’s thoughts and feelings. Indianapolis (ap) — the indianapolis public library begins a new year with a lot in flux. the employee protests last year over alleged systemic racism and discrimination sparked the departure of former ceo jackie nytes, but it also instituted a domino effect of changes within the public agency. Indianapolis public library (indypl) leadership are quick to share the work they’ve done in dismantling systemic racism: building branches in underserved areas, broadening collections to represent minority communities and creating an equity plan following the 2020 protests.

Indianapolis Public Library Board Faces Community After Racism Accusations Indianapolis (ap) — the indianapolis public library begins a new year with a lot in flux. the employee protests last year over alleged systemic racism and discrimination sparked the departure of former ceo jackie nytes, but it also instituted a domino effect of changes within the public agency. Indianapolis public library (indypl) leadership are quick to share the work they’ve done in dismantling systemic racism: building branches in underserved areas, broadening collections to represent minority communities and creating an equity plan following the 2020 protests. Black staff members and the library union spoke to the press over the summer about their experiences with racism, ableism, homophobia, and sexual harassment from other workers and leadership, and called for nytes, who is white, and board president jose salinas, who is latino, to step down. After two black women on the board, patricia payne and khaula murtadha, insisted that her testimony be heard, she was unmuted. her testimony was scathing, describing the vitriolic racism she experienced at the library, including hearing staff calling black patrons “porch monkeys.”. Dr. patricia payne, who is in her sixth year on the board of trustees, wasn’t surprised by the allegations. while she credited the library for its involvement in racial equity training, she condemned the culture at indypl. “the library is run like a plantation,” payne told the recorder in may. Indianapolis public library (indypl) ceo jackie nytes submitted her resignation at a special board meeting aug. 20. her tenure, which began in 2012, will end aug. 31, amid allegations of racism. in an internal email to staff before the meeting, nytes expressed the need to resign in order for the library to improve.