Priority Populations

Evanston's demographic landscape is diverse, with residents identifying as Black, Indigenous, Asian, Pacific Islander, Latinx, Middle Eastern, North African, and other People of Color. According to the U.S. Census, 37.3% of the population identifies as coming from diverse backgrounds. Specifically, 16.5% identify as Black, 11.3% as Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% as Asian, and 8.7% identify as belonging to two or more racial groups (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023).

Individuals who are from our priority populations have faced historical legacies of racialized oppression, which negatively impacts health, access to education, economic opportunity, and professional/personal life. Evanston Public Library prioritizes supporting all marginalized community members and recognizing all individuals' diverse identities and needs. We acknowledge the overlapping priorities among groups. Evanston Public Library aspires to be a safe haven for historically marginalized people. We believe that those who walk through the world with intersecting identities deserve to come to the library with all parts of themselves seen, welcomed and valued. To this end, we commit to implementing comprehensive strategies that address the unique needs of all marginalized groups, including older adults, individuals with disabilities, immigrants and refugees, the unhoused, vulnerable youth, and LGBTQIA+.