This paper discusses public libraries in the United Kingdom (UK) from a social and political point of view and examines race issues outside the UK. Part 1 addresses understanding race and class oppression, including moving away from a Eurocentric approach, features of racism, social and economic exclusion, the language of exclusion/liberation, roots of racism, combating racism in the United States, manifestation of racism in the UK, and racism and the law. Employment of black workers is described in Part 2, including the library field, the role of the Library Association, and the culture of change. Part 3 covers the black community perspective, including community librarianship, empowering local communities, and research projects. Part 4 discusses problems and solutions, including equal opportunity, commitment of managers, the role of Equalities Officers, barriers to change, the need to fight institutionalized racism, and anti-racism. Tools for change are discussed in Part 6, including perspectives on combating racism, recommendations of the Roach and Morrison study, Commission of Racial Equality standards, Lawrence Inquiry recommendations, the government's Social Exclusion agenda, library standards, empowering staff, changes at the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Best Value process, the Quality Leaders Project, and the Local Authorities Race Relations Information Exchange. Part 6 presents the conclusion and recommendations. (Contains 132 references.) (MES)