From the Idaho Commission for Libraries Scoop newsletter
For those library staff who are working from home and still have access to your catalog, you may consider taking this time to conduct a Diversity and Inclusion Audit of a portion of your Young Adult Collection.
What is a diversity audit?
“A diversity audit is basically doing an inventory of a collection to determine the amount of diversity within the collection. It’s a way of analyzing collection data to make sure that we include a wide variety of points of view, experiences and representations within a collection. Our goal is to provide a well-balanced collection that can be both a mirror (reflect a reader’s experience) and a window (so readers can experience different experiences and points of view). (See We Need Diverse Books’ FAQ.)
There are several existing resources to aid you in your audit. Consider:
- Diversity Considerations in YA: Doing a Diversity Audit by Karen Jensen (from Teen Librarian Toolbox)
See pages 2-8 in particular. - Library Collection Shelf Audit for Diversity and Inclusion by Julie Stivers (from Project READY: Reimagining Equity & Access for Diverse Youth)
- Genrefying Your Collection WITHOUT Changing Call Numbers by Jennifer LaGarde (from The Adventures of Library Girl)
Another strategy for promoting diversity and inclusion by increasing browsability and discoverability of books by children.