Guest post by Kristina Kelley-Johnson, Director, Somerset Public Library.  The library received scholarship funds from IFLS (through IMLS) to follow up another inservice training at their library.  

 Small Steps, Big Shifts: What DEI Training Sparked in Our Library

When we first received DEI training funds through the Wisconsin Libraries Talk About Race, I thought we’d be diving into something huge and maybe a little overwhelming. I expected big, bold changes that might feel like a lot for our small-town community. But what I learned was something surprisingly encouraging—DEI work doesn’t have to be loud to be meaningful. It can be thoughtful, intentional, and quietly transformative.

That initial training lit a spark for us, and then a follow-up scholarship through IFLS allowed us to keep the momentum going. With those funds, we brought in a DEI consultant for more focused training and planning. It was the first time our whole team had done something like this together, and it created shared language, shared goals, and a lot of excitement.

One of the biggest takeaways? We realized we’ve been doing what many do—if something works, we repeat it. But that means we’re not always growing, and we’re not always reaching new people or offering new perspectives. This training helped us pause and ask: Who’s not here? Who are we not serving yet?

Since then, we’ve started rethinking a lot of things:

• We’re making a list of inclusive program ideas and looking more critically at the ones we already offer. Are they accessible? Do they reflect a variety of experiences?
• We’re updating our web listings with new photos and info so visitors can get a sense of what to expect before they walk in the door. We’re even exploring a virtual tour.
• We’re adding tools like fidget toys and communication boards to make the library more welcoming for everyone, and planning more passive programming so folks can drop in and engage casually.

We have a long way to go, and that’s okay. What matters is that we’re moving forward together. The training didn’t just give us ideas—it gave us motivation, shared purpose, and the energy to keep asking how we can do better.

It was a scholarship, yes—but more than that, it was a mindset shift. And I’m really excited to see where it takes us next.