Kitchener Public Library launches Access to Education Fund
Cover image and press by Immigration Waterloo Region. View the press directly on their website.
KITCHENER, ON — Kitchener Public Library is launching a new initiative to support Indigenous and racialized library staff through its Access to Education Fund. The new fund will directly support a bursary created to reduce financial barriers for Indigenous and racialized Kitchener Public Library staff pursuing graduate-level education in Library and/or Information Science, the standard education requirement for professional librarian roles across Canada.
Kitchener Public Library’s Access to Education Fund is supported in partnership by Waterloo Region Community Foundation. This fund is an upstream initiative in response to educational barriers that disproportionally impact Indigenous and racialized communities. Library and Information Science programs have not traditionally attracted proportionally diverse students. As a result, librarian roles requiring this designation may exhibit less diversity than is reflective of their community. Kitchener Public Library is committed to reducing barriers for library staff and to support a diverse and inclusive generation of library staff and leaders.
“Kitchener Public Library is committed to encouraging Indigenous and racialized staff as they access education and build the skills to be leaders in our libraries and our communities. It is with great humility and joy that we launch this fund at the library,” said Mary Chevreau, CEO, Kitchener Public Library.
“We are pleased to support Kitchener Public Library in this important and timely initiative. Kitchener Public Library has a reputation in the community for innovative and equitable action and this fund continues in that tradition. We are confident that this partnership will contribute to representative staffing at all levels in the library,” said Eric Avner, President and CEO, Waterloo Region Community Foundation.
Bursary details:
Kitchener Public Library, in partnership with the Waterloo Region Community Foundation, will fundraise for an annual bursary for the Access to Education Fund
Bursaries will be administered by Kitchener Public Library and awarded to staff members of Kitchener Public Library pursuing graduate-level education in Library and/or Information Science
Individuals, organizations, and groups are encouraged to donate to this initiative at kpl.org/donate
About the Kitchener Public Library
Kitchener Public Library is a hub of activity and one of the most significant community spaces in the City of Kitchener. The library boasts five locations located throughout the city including the award-winning Central Library near the downtown core. The library has 102,000 active members and welcomes 1.2 million visitors each year. To learn more about Kitchener Public Library, visit kpl.org. To be the first to find out what’s happening at the library, follow @KitchLibrary on Twitter.
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For additional information about this release, please contact:
Kerri Hutchinson
Manager, Marketing and Communications
Kitchener Public Library
kerri.hutchinson@kpl.org
85 Queen Street North, Kitchener, ON