It’s always good to learn about other cultures, and especially at an early age. Libraries can provide critical resources such as programs with various perspectives, or materials to provide mirrors and windows into the lives of others. Thanks to a generous donation from Al-Kisa Foundation, a nonprofit which aims to promote Islamic education in children through the distribution of Islamic literature and curriculum, that is now more possible for the community of Aurora and its children.
Aurora Public Library District (APLD) has made honoring diversity and promoting inclusion, a goal. “We serve everyone in Aurora, therefore we need items that represent all of the faiths and cultures that live in Aurora, Illinois in an equitable manner,” said selection specialist, Vita Miceli.
“Children, teenagers and adults need to see their cultures,” she said, “and identities represented in library materials that show how their culture has contributed to American society. We as a community in Aurora are open to and should learn the values of Islam, and when we see similarities across value systems, we learn we are not so different from each other.”
This generous donation includes more than 50 new children’s titles, including Rahman the Raindrop, written by Binte Zehra Naqvi and illustrated by Nida Syed. “This one was one of my favorites. There was a deeper message within,” Miceli said. Library patrons can place holds on some of new titles, and distribution to each branch of APLD will begin later this month.
The Library was especially pleased to receive this donation in light of the Board’s recent statement which identified literature and the arts as a way to combat racism and hate, including Islamophobia.
Andrew Muñoz is communications coordinator at the Aurora Public Library.