Embark on a journey with us to better understand yourself and others. Take time this month to celebrate and learn about the histories, contributions, and current experiences of those around you.
The stories highlighted here act as windows into other cultures and mirrors of our own experiences. Source: By Rudine Sims Bishop, The Ohio State University. "Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors" originally appeared in Perspectives: Choosing and Using Books for the Classroom. Vo. 6, no. 3. Summer 1990.
Disability Pride Month (July)
Disability Pride for Teens 2024
This list contains nonfiction books about disabilities and fiction books featuring characters with disabilities.
Films for Disability Pride Month (Streaming Movies)
In honor of Disability Pride Month, discover stories of those with special and unique talents with this collection of films on Kanopy PLUS.
Celebrate Disability Pride Month (For Kids & Families)
Celebrate Disability Pride Month with stories by some of our favorite disabled, chronically ill, Deaf, and neurodivergent writers.
Celebrate Disability Pride Month (Adult Fiction)
Celebrate people with disabilities. Read these books of fiction focusing on physical and mental challenges.
Disability Pride Month
Disability Pride Month (July) is a way to honor the history, achievements, experiences, and struggles of the disability community.
Inclusion & Equity for Workers with Disabilities (Course)
Advocate and Paralympic gold medalist Liz Johnson details the actions your organization can take to ensure equity for disabled employees.
Equity First: Path to Inclusion & Belonging (Online Course)
Mary-Frances discusses gender equality, racial and ethnic equity, sexual orientation equity, and equity for people with disabilities.
Accessibility Options for Digital Newspapers
Learn how to access accessibility tools using the library's digital newspaper service, PressReader.
Disability Pride Month (Download or Stream)
Enjoy listening to these musical selections from famous blind musicians.
Featuring People with Disabilities
Celebrate people with disabilities. These movies, tv shows and documentaries showcase individuals who have a physical or mental disability.
Accessibility Options for eBooks
Learn how to increase text size, use screen readers, turn on dyslexic font, increase contrast, and more using OverDrive's Libby app.
Fairchild Hall: So You Think You Know Westerville?
Explore a semi-abandoned building off Sunbury Road called Fairchild Hall, which used to be the Ohio Home for the Aged & Infirm Deaf.
Accessibility Station
For those with low vision, this computer offers mouse & keyboard control, a high-contrast & screen magnifier (20x), text-to-speech & more.
Home Deliveries
Get library books, movies and more, delivered to your home for free. Available for seniors, homebound, temporarily disabled and caregivers.
2024 Schedule of Celebrations
- February: Black History Month
- March: Women's History Month
- April: National Deaf History Month
- May: Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month
- June: LGBTQ+ Pride Month
- July: Disability Pride Month
- September: Hispanic Latino Heritage Month
- November: Native American Heritage Month
Marvel Voices Comic Series
Originally starting as a podcast, Marvel Voices has expanded to comic format to highlight characters and creators of color in Marvel comics.
Pura Belpre Medal
Awarded to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator for a work of children’s literature that best celebrates the Latino cultural experience.
Américas Award
These awards commend authors, illustrators and publishers who produce quality youth lit about U.S. Latin, Caribbean, & Latinx culture.
Hispanic Heritage Month (eBooks & More)
Celebrate with digital comics, ebooks, audiobooks, music, movies, and more!
About This Initiative
The Westerville Public Library’s intention with this initiative is to reflect our diverse community, encourage acceptance, promote respect, expand understanding, amplify a wide range of voices, and energize community conversations. Suggestions for future celebrations welcome.Â
Heritage in this context is intended to encompass the people, places, and things that have been passed down from generation to generation.
Westerville Voices
Turning up the volume on unheard voices in our community to foster empathy & understanding.
Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (online course)
Explore this belonging approach, and discover how to activate it in your organization.
CultureGrams
Discover cultures of the world. Go beyond the basic facts and figures with local perspectives on more than 200 countries
Unconscious Bias (online course)
Founder/CEO of Rework Work Stacey Gordon reveals the most common forms of unconscious bias and teaches skills to effectively address them.
Mindy B.
Mindy will always bring a smile to your face, even when she's concentrating on finding hard-to-get-your-hands-on books and journal articles.
Thomas S.
Fun and friendly, Thomas is often out-and-about, bringing entertainment and energy to community events around Westerville.
Aneeza P.
Aneeza is curious about people, cultures, communities, and social and organizational structures.
Erin H.
Erin is a Victorian romance girl, through and through.
