Books Promoting Diversity and Tolerance To Be Highlighted at Free Library Kiosks

Zane and Asher KohnTwo Scarsdale brothers, Asher and Zane Kohn, have received a $1,000 Stevens Initiative grant to promote tolerance by highlighting books written by or about people from diverse backgrounds. In collaboration with the Scarsdale Public Library (SPL) they are launching Diverse Books Teach Tolerance, a community service project. Books will be purchased and stocked in the free library kiosks and selections will highlight a different theme each month.

The project will launch in February, recommending readings on African American experiences and by African American authors in observance of Black History Month. Find these books at the three kiosks located at Hyatt Field playground, Chase Park, and Crossway Park across from tennis courts. There is normally a fourth kiosk at the Brite Avenue tennis courts, but that one is currently under repair and a fifth kiosk will be installed at the Scarsdale Library when the weather permits.

The program was born out of Asher Kohn’s experience through the virtual exchange program, Experiment Digital, when he got to know counterparts across the US, Middle East, and North Africa and received leadership training to create and implement service projects in local communities. He recruited his brother, Zane Kohn, and came up with the idea for the Diverse Books Teach Tolerance project. They applied to the Stevens Initiative for a grant to fund their idea and were one of fifteen selected and awarded a grant out of 3,000 teens.

Through launching their project, the teens hope to promote diverse perspectives and therefore tolerance in Scarsdale. Zane Kohn explained: “We hope that by bringing diverse books to Scarsdale through the library kiosks, we will encourage people to read these books, start conversations, and bring about positive changes.”

On the program’s launch, Scarsdale Public Library Executive Director, Elizabeth Bermel said, “I was delighted and inspired when the Kohns approached the Library with their idea and thrilled when they won the grant. This program will make a great positive impact locally.”

Recently appointed Teen Librarian, Jennifer Brinley, will work with the Kohns to implement the project. “It is important for the Library to encourage the ambitions and growth of Scarsdale’s teens, especially when it comes to supporting community work,” said Brinley. She further added, “I am happy and proud that Diverse Books Teach Tolerance will be one of the first initiatives I get to support as the new Teen Librarian. I look forward to offering programs and reading materials that inspire an inclusive worldview in the minds and behaviors of Scarsdale’s teens.”

To start, they hope to add new books monthly and have recommended reads for all levels of readers from children to teens to adults. These books will be identifiable in library kiosks by their specialty stickers and bookmarks.

The kiosks function as “take a book, leave a book,” although many people just take or just leave books. Readers are asked to return these specially marked books back to the kiosks when they are finished reading them so they will remain circulating and others in the community can enjoy them as well.