Mission
This Social Justice Mini Lending Library project allows the opportunity for teachers and students to explore the array of social justice-focused age appropriate books across various topics. As our communities and the people we love grow more diverse, it is important to genuinely honor that and as educators, have the educational resources to address not only the beauty of diversity, but also the issues around equity that are a part of it. At The Youth Farm Project, we are aware of this need and hope that this lending library will help integrate more cultural competence in the classroom and the school as a whole.

Logistics
The books in this bin are not just for kids! There are various resources for teachers as well. We hope that these books will be an inspiration for school librarians and teachers alike, and that within a few years every elementary school library will have started their own social justice book collection!

There will be two circulating lending libraries that teachers will sign up to acquire for two weeks at a time. After the two weeks are up, YFP staff will pick-up the bin and take it to its next location.

Each book in the Social Justice Lending Library bin has a sticker inside that reads,“This book is made possible by the Youth Farm Project and the Social Service League of Ithaca.” Please treat our books with care as they will hopefully be resources and references for all elementary schools in this school district. We understand that students will be using these books and that they may get a little roughed up. Mostly, it is important to us that the books are kept track of as we want to provide each school with a complete library.

If you have any questions feel free to contact us at: farmjusticeeducator@gmail.com

Thank you.