We, the undersigned, respectfully petition the Tacoma Public Library board and management team to pause and re-assess the goal of “uniform user experience.”

We enjoy the varied ‘flavors’ of our neighborhood branches. We question the imposition of a goal characteristic of for-profit corporate retail and food chains upon a community-based public service.

We are concerned that the goal of uniform user experience will prove detrimental to the published goal and value of our library branches being trusted community hubs, offering radical welcome.

We are concerned that uniformity is being used as a ‘color-blind’ attempt at addressing existing, long-standing equity issues rather than correcting imbalances of resources, support, and staffing. Uniformity is not equity.