¾«¶«´«Ã½

CHICAGO - On January 17, 2023, the seventh annual US National Day of Racial Healing, the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ (ALA), the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), and the Society of American Archivists (SAA) call upon our collective memberships—comprised of several hundred thousand archivists, librarians, and other information professionals, and thousands of libraries and archives of all kinds—to observe the day with reflection and action. Launched in 2017 by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the is part of the (TRHT) and is observed immediately following Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The US TRHT Movement, embraced by more than 300 organizations in the academic, artistic, civic, and faith communities, is around the globe. Libraries, archives, and other memory institutions have a special role to play in convening conversations, celebrating community diversity, hosting programs and exhibits, partnering with communities on archiving and storytelling, and other ways our organizations leverage collections, spaces, and expertise to contribute to racial healing and racial equity.

Through joint , education, and advocacy, our associations are committed to working together and developing leaders and organizations that promote racial equity. The National Day of Racial Healing is an opportunity for our members to take action locally. On Tuesday, January 17, ALA, ARL, and SAA call on our members to:

1. Devote time for a Healing Hour in your organizations and departments for discussion, education, and reflection using the resources and .
2. Share your organization’s learning in pursuit of racial justice and healing with your colleagues and users, on your websites, and in your communications.
   • Download and use the “Libraries & Archives Observe National Day of Racial Healing” image.
   • On social media, use the hashtag #LibrariesAndArchivesForRacialHealing along with #HowWeHeal.
3. , ALA’s resources, and to spark your thinking. Share with your colleagues and users in your displays or website, or on social media using the hashtags #LibrariesAndArchivesForRacialHealing and #HowWeHeal.

About the ¾«¶«´«Ã½

The ¾«¶«´«Ã½ (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ¾«¶«´«Ã½has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit .

About the Association of College & Research Libraries

The Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) is the higher education association for academic libraries and library workers. Representing more than 8,000 individuals and libraries, ACRL (a division of the ¾«¶«´«Ã½) develops programs, products, and services to help those working in academic and research libraries learn, innovate, and lead within the academic community. Founded in 1940, ACRL is committed to advancing learning, transforming scholarship, and creating diverse and inclusive communities. Find ACRL on the , , , , and .

About the Association of Research Libraries

The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is a nonprofit organization of whose vision is to create a trusted, equitable, and inclusive research and learning ecosystem and prepare library leaders to advance this work in strategic partnership with member libraries and other organizations worldwide. ARL’s mission is to empower and advocate for research libraries and archives to shape, influence, and implement institutional, national, and international policy. ARL develops the next generation of leaders and enables strategic cooperation among partner institutions to benefit scholarship and society. ARL is on the web at .

About the Society of American Archivists

Founded in 1936, the Society of American Archivists (SAA) is North America’s oldest and largest national professional association dedicated to the needs and interests of archives and archivists. SAA represents more than 6,000 professional archivists employed by governments, universities, businesses, libraries, and historical organizations nationally. SAA empowers archivists to achieve professional excellence and foster innovation to ensure the identification, preservation, understanding, and use of records of enduring value. SAA is a vital community that advances diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility of archives and archivists. Visit .