How to Build and Defend Inclusive Collections
Learn how to conduct a diversity audit, ensure representation, and defend your collections against censorship challenges.
Course Overview
Guest speaker sessions via Zoom:
Wednesdays, Oct. 25, Nov. 1, and 8, starting at 2:00 pm ET (recordings available)
Workshop:
Asynchronous, facilitator-led workshop over 3 weeks
Create library collections that are inclusive and reflect a diverse range of people, stories, and experiences by learning how to conduct a diversity audit, ensure representation, and defend your collections against censorship challenges.
Library collections must be diverse and inclusive, offering windows into and reflections of the vast array of people, stories and experiences that make up our world. In this course, you’ll learn from an outstanding group of experts as they explore key concepts essential to cultivating and promoting inclusive and equitable collections. You’ll conduct a diversity and inclusion audit of your collections, and hear about ways to include wider perspectives from and about LGBTQIA+ people, Black, indigenous, and people of color, and historically underrepresented ethnicities, cultures, and religions. You’ll learn how to ensure that your collections are more reflective of the diversity of your community and the larger world and how to establish policies for keeping your inclusive collections safe against book challenges.
You’ll complete assignments to complete a diversity and inclusion audit over 3+ weeks in an interactive online classroom environment with personal coaching from an expert in the field. In addition, you’ll have access to our foundational bonus content—rich supporting materials you can explore at your own pace, including a series of webinars from Library Journal and School Library Journal contributors, readings, activities, and videos.
The transformational speaker program has given thousands of librarians the tools and vision for meaningful change. The live sessions run on Wednesdays, Oct. 25, Nov. 1, and 8, starting at 2:00 pm ET (recordings available) with an ongoing facilitator-led workshop over 3 weeks. Don’t miss this opportunity!
When you sign up early, you’ll have immediate access to our Early Access On Demand Resources—a series of webinars from Library Journal and School Library Journal contributors along with rich, supporting materials in the form of readings, activities, and videos—to explore at your own pace.
Learning Objectives
After you attend this interactive online course and workshop, you’ll be able to:
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Assess current library collections, book promotions, and displays through a diverse lens in order to assess gaps in collections and service areas
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Understand key diversity and cultural literacy concepts such as white privilege, unconscious bias, cultural appropriation, and intersectionality
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Recognize common problematic stereotypes, tropes, and microaggressions in media
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Assess the diversity and inclusiveness of current collection development and RA practices
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Plan and execute a diversity audit
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Diversify collections and displays with cultural humility and confidence
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Assess and revise your collection policies to address censorship
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Find allies to join you in protecting intellectual freedom
Who should take this course
Any educator or librarian wanting to learn how to build and maintain diverse collections.
Expected time commitment:
If you attend or watch the recordings of all live sessions and participate fully in the asynchronous workshop, you'll spend approximately 3-4 hours per week on this course. You'll earn 15 hours of PD credit and a Library Journal certificate of completion.
Live sessions are also available on demand for six months
Can’t make a live session? All guest speaker sessions are recorded and available on demand for six months following the initial broadcast. Asynchronous workshops allow you to complete assignments and receive feedback from experts.
Certificate of completion provided
15 professional development credits are available
For support with online courses, please contact libraryjournal@edmaker.co
Accessibility
All guest speaker sessions feature live captioning and are made available on demand after the initial broadcast. Please email libraryjournal@edmaker.co upon registration if you require any special accommodations and we will make our best efforts to facilitate them.
Group Rates
Have a team attend and increase your impact!
Discounted registration fees are available for groups of 3 or more. When you register your team for our online courses, they will be placed in the same small workshop group, where discussions and project-based assignments receive feedback from an experienced librarian.
Send us a request for a quote.
If your group prefers to work separately, just let us know.
2023 Course Curriculum Advisor
Kymberlee Powe, (she,her) Children and YA Consultant, Connecticut State Library Division of Library Development
Kymberlee Powe has been working in libraries for over fourteen years and specializes in youth services. Kym is currently the Children and Young Adult Consultant with the Connecticut State Library and was awarded the inaugural Judy Burroughs award by the Connecticut Crossroads Project, an award given to people whose skills and talents have a positive effect on the greater Connecticut Community. Kym has given presentations and participated in panel conversations at various conferences which include the Connected Learning Summit, Niche Academy, and School Library Journal/ Library Journal.
By registering for this event you confirm that you have read and agree to our Code of Conduct.
For support with online courses, please contact libraryjournal@edmaker.co.
Week 1: Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Establishing goals and priorities: Defining inclusive collections and learning how to build and maintain them
Session 1 | 2:00-2:45 pm ET
Creating Inclusive Library Collections
While it’s important to ensure our collections are diverse, what does it mean to ensure they are truly inclusive? In this session, we’ll discuss why moving toward inclusive library collections is a crucial step in advancing equity and justice at our institutions. You’ll learn from an expert how to assess your collections as they are now, and hear what considerations to make when ordering and weeding. We’ll also touch on how to address some of the challenges to materials in your collection and how to advocate for underrepresented voices that must be included.
Speaker:
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Kymberlee Powe, Children and YA Consultant, Connecticut State Library Division of Library Development |
Workshop Q&A + Break | 2:45-3:00 pm ET
An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course
Session 2 | 3:00-3:45 pm ET
Conducting a Diversity Audit of Your Collections and Ordering: Where to Start
In this session, we’ll discuss the process of conducting a diversity audit of both your collections and your ordering. You’ll learn how to plan a diversity audit, which salient data points should be included, how to gather the requisite information, and how to set goals to address gaps. We’ll discuss the step-by-step process for establishing your diversity audit and how to make diversity and inclusion natural and ongoing parts of collection management and promotion.
Speakers:
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Betsy Bird, Collection Development Manager, Evanston Public Library (IL) |
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Dontaná McPherson-Joseph, Collection Management Librarian, Oak Park Public Library (IL) |
Week 2: Wednesday, November 1, 2023
Preparing for your collection assessment: Identifying harmful – and amplifying authentic – stories in our library materials
From Margin to Center: A Collection Development Deep Dive
Not all representation is good representation, and in this series of enlightening sessions, you’ll learn how to identify the harmful and amplify the affirming. You will hear from several experts in the field about the ways that specific identities are portrayed in mainstream media, their traditions misunderstood or misrepresented, and their stories appropriated by cultural outsiders. You’ll learn how to spot problematic stereotypes and tropes and how to avoid perpetuating such depictions. You’ll walk away with the tools you need - and a trove of resources - to build a more inclusive and affirming collection at your library or institution and become an advocate for storytelling that moves beyond representation and towards real inclusion.
Session 1 | Black Stories in Library Collections | 2:00-2:25 pm ET
Speaker:
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Jennifer Baker, Writer, Editor, Advocate, and Founder, Minorities in Publishing podcast |
Session 2 | Muslim Stories in Library Collections | 2:25-2:50 pm ET
Speakers:
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Mahasin Abuwi Aleem, (she, her) Senior Community Library Manager, Contra Costa County Library, Antioch Libraries (CA), Co-Founder, Hijabi Librarians, Co-Founder, Hijabi Librarians |
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Hadeal Salamah, (she, her) currently serving on the 2024 Walter Dean Myers Awards Committee, co-founder of Hijabi Librarians and reviewer |
Break | 2:50-3:00 pm ET
Session 3 | Queer Stories in Library Collections | 3:00-3:25 pm ET
Speaker:
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Carson Williams, (he, him) Collection Development Librarian, Cornell University (NY) |
Session 4 | Native American Stories in Library Collections | 3:25-3:50 pm ET
Speaker:
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Stacy Wells, South Lake Public Library, Executive Assistant for the American Indian Library Association, Native KidLit writer |
Break | 3:50-3:55 pm ET
Session 5 | Disability Stories in Library Collections | 3:55-4:20 pm ET
Speaker:
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Dan Freeman, Senior Assistant Director for Curriculum Policy and Support at the College of Arts and Sciences, Indiana University-Bloomington |
Workshop Q&A | 4:20-4:30 pm ET
An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course
Week 3: Wednesday, November 8, 2023
Beginning your audit and defending inclusive collections
Session 1 | 2:00-2:45 pm ET
Assessing and Revising Your Collection Management Policies to Protect Your Collections and Yourself
As you create more inclusive collections, it’s critical to assess your current collections policies so that you are equipped to handle both informal and formal book challenges and have conversations with patrons that promote your inclusive and affirming materials. Having clear procedures, protocols, and messaging in place can provide a strong foundation for collection development work as well as protect frontline staff. Assessing your policies and procedures and how they are communicated with your community is a key piece of your advocacy work.
Speaker:
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Kelly Jensen, Editor, Book Riot |
Workshop Q&A + Break | 2:45-3:00 pm ET
An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course
Session 2 | 3:00-3:45 pm ET
Stronger Together: Building Community, Coalitions, and Allies
Defending intellectual freedom can’t be the job of just one person. This session will teach you how to find allies inside and outside of your library or school, build coalitions, and work as a community to combat censorship challenges. You will leave with shared resources and tools for how to connect with others to drive change in your community.
Speaker:
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Erika Long, (she, her) School Library Consultant |
Session 3 | 3:45-4:15 pm ET
Sustaining Collection Assessment Momentum
Collection assessment work is never done, and in this session, we’ll discuss what is required to build and sustain momentum for this iterative process. You’ll come away with tools and strategies for assessing and understanding the impact of your initial auditing approach, as well as considerations for expanding and refining for the future.
Speaker:
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Kymberlee Powe, Children and YA Consultant, Connecticut State Library Division of Library Development |
For support with online courses, please contact libraryjournal@edmaker.co.
Online Course Preview
A preview of how we build your library skills and bring inspiration to your projects with our online learning experience.
Course Format
One-Week Timeline (Course Runs 3+ Weeks)
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DAYS 1-2 On Demand |
DAY 3 2.5 hours |
DAYS 4-7 1-2 hours (optional) |
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PRE-LIVE SESSION - Resources - Discussions - Bonus Content |
LIVE SESSIONS - Guest speakers via webcast - Q&A via chat - Recordings available on demand |
ASYNCHRONOUS WORKSHOP - Project-based homework, applied to your job - Personalized feedback from a facilitator - Group discussion in an asynchronous workshop setting via discussion forum |
3-WEEK WORKSHOP - Facilitator-led feedback WEEK 1 Establish goals and priorities WEEK 2 Prepare for your collection assessment WEEK 3 Begin audit or select materials for a collection |
Inspiring Live Guest Speakers + Facilitated Group Workshop for Project-Based Learning
Live session with Andrea Blackman and Tasneem Ansariyah Grace |
Live Guest Speakers Each Week
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Online Course Features
Recordings of guest speakers |
Recordings Available After The Live Session
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Facilitator-led workshop |
Online Classroom Organizes All Materials
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Early Access On Demand Resources |
Early Access and Ongoing Resources To Support Learning
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