IDEA Team - Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Advocates

A Team of Diverse Employees Paving the Way for DEI at Mid-Columbia Libraries

The IDEA Team is a diverse group of employees committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion at Mid-Columbia Libraries. All staff are invited to take part in supporting the IDEA Team make our region a more inclusive place for everyone. Below you will find a variety of lists and books shared by our IDEA Team to start or support your own DEI journey.  

Cryptids and Creatures

Ghosts, yetis, aliens, and unicorns are all the creatures and cryptids featured weekly for Mid-Columbia Libraries in June as part of the Summer Reading Challenge! Explore these creature tales through new lenses or revisit an old favorite. 

We Are All Family

What does family mean to you? What does family look like? The following list offers different snapshots of families, and while they are geared towards children, these are books everyone can enjoy. 

Celebrating Neurodiversity: Stories That Empower

Expand your understanding of neurodiversity with our curated book list! Discover insightful reads that explore different neurodivergent experiences, from autism and ADHD to dyslexia and more. Learn valuable strategies, gain fresh perspectives, and find stories that resonate with your own journey.

Books From Your Own Backyard

From the heart of the Tri-Cities to the edges of the state, here are some of our favorite local authors! They write everything from picture books to histories of the area. There is something for everyone no matter your age on this list. Hopefully you’ll find a new favorite!

Diverse Cuisine

Who doesn’t love food? It is one of the constant elements across civilizations and time periods that always brings people together. These cookbooks are some of our favorites. From old classics to new ideas, hopefully you find something here to delight your senses and explore in your kitchen. Take your taste buds on a trip around the world.

We Are Made of Stories

At Mid-Columbia Libraries we are committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Stepping into someone's story helps us see the world through a new lens. These titles are from a wide variety of authors that offer new views on the world or new things to think about, and help us reach that goal.

I'm With the Banned

These are our favorite books have been challenged or banned for various reasons. Freedom to choose what you read is a precious thing to libraries and we encourage you to give these books a chance.

Not Gonna Hide My Pride

This list consists mostly of pictures books that explore Pride and LGBTQIA2S+ community. Visit the parades, learn the history, and more as you go through these colorful reads.