Learn to create library collections that are inclusive and reflect a diverse range of people, stories, and experiences.

Course Description 

Create library collections that are inclusive and reflect a diverse range of people, stories, and experiences by learning how to conduct a diversity audit and ensure representation across lived experiences. 

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 live session recordings from an outstanding group of experts as they explore key concepts essential to cultivating and promoting inclusive and equitable collections. In the three-week workshop, you’ll conduct a diversity and inclusion audit of your collections, and hear from your group facilitator 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.

This is an on-demand course made up of recorded instructional presentations plus an instructor-led asynchronous workshop over three weeks (with all materials accessible for six months). The workshop includes written feedback on assignments from an expert, as well as peer-to-peer interaction via discussion forum. Don’t miss this opportunity! 

Learning Outcomes

After you attend this course, you’ll be able to:

• Assess current library collections, book promotions, and displays through a diverse lens in order to assess gaps in collections and service areas

• Understand key diversity and cultural literacy concepts such as white privilege, unconscious bias, cultural appropriation, and intersectionality

• Recognize common problematic stereotypes, tropes, and microaggressions in media

• Assess the diversity and inclusiveness of current collection development and readers advisory practices

• Plan and execute a diversity audit

• Diversify collections and displays with cultural humility and confidence

Who should take this course?

This course is for any librarian who influences or manages library collections and materials.

Course Features 

This is an on-demand course made up of recorded instructional presentations plus an instructor-led asynchronous workshop over three weeks. The workshop includes written feedback on assignments from an expert, as well as peer-to-peer interaction via discussion forum.

This will be an on-demand online course and will include:

• Recorded sessions: Guest speaker presentations by leaders in their field. (All session recordings have on-demand access for six months.) 

• Asynchronous workshop: Project-based weekly assignments to connect what you’re learning to your professional life. Includes written feedback from an expert in the field who functions as the workshop facilitator, as well as peer conversation via discussion forums.

• Early access on-demand resources: Access to a series of past live session archives from Library Journal and School Library Journal courses to explore at your own pace. 

• Online Classroom: The virtual learning platform that holds all course content and is accessible for six months after the course ends.

*Note: You do not have to complete the asynchronous work during these three weeks; it will be open to you for six months. However, the feedback from facilitators will only be available from January 30 - February 13.  

Expected time commitment

If you watch the recordings of all sessions and participate in the asynchronous workshop, you'll spend approximately 2-4 hours per week on this course. You'll earn 15 hours of PD credit and a Library Journal certificate of completion. 

On-demand access

All guest speaker session recordings are available on demand for six months as a part of your purchase.

Certificate of completion 

Complete the course and earn 15 professional development credit hours. We provide a certificate that is emailed to you. 

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.

Support

For support with online courses, please contact libraryjournal@edmaker.co.

Group Rates

We offer discounts for groups of 3 or more. Groups have the option to collaborate in the same workshop group, where discussions and project-based assignments receive feedback from an experienced librarian.

For larger groups of 15 or more, we offer the option to apply group rates across multiple courses to receive significant discounts. For more information, select “Bulk Course Credits Packages” in the form below. 

Request a group discount!

By registering for this event you confirm that you have read and agree to our Code of Conduct.

Week 1: Establishing goals and priorities: Defining inclusive collections and learning how to build and maintain them

Recorded on Thursday, October 24, 2024

Session 1 | 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.

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Session 2 | 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.

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Session 3 | Metrics for Inclusive Collections: Goals, Benchmarks, and Evaluation 

What are realistic goals to set for creating inclusive collections? What kinds of metrics and data are most helpful in evaluating whether you are reaching your benchmarks? This session will discuss data-driven metrics to help your processes as you develop your collection, weed, and conduct a diversity audit.  

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Week 2: Preparing for your collection assessment: Identifying harmful – and amplifying authentic – stories in our library materials

Recorded on Thursday, October 31, 2024

Session 1 | 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.

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From Margin to Center: A Collection Development Deep Dive, Part 1

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 

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Session 2 | Muslim Stories in Library Collections 

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Week 3: Beginning your audit and defending inclusive collections

Recorded on Thursday, November 7, 2024

From Margin to Center: A Collection Development Deep Dive, Part 2

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 | Native American Stories in Library Collections 

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Session 2 | Disability Stories in Library Collections 

Session 3 | Queer Stories in Library Collections 

Session 4 | Inclusive Publishers 

Learn about specific publishers who are publishing unique and inclusive books you might consider adding to your collections. 

Session 5 | 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.

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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)

DAYS 1-2 On-Demand	DAY 3 2 hours	DAYS 4-7 1-2 hours (optional)
PRE COURSE - Resources - Discussions - Bonus Content	RECORDED SESSIONS - Guest speaker recordings - Recordings available for 6 months	ASYNCHRONOUS WORKSHOP - Project-based weekly assignments - Written feedback from a facilitator - Peer conversation via discussion forums

Course Features

Live session with Andrea Blackman and Tasneem Ansariyah Grace	Recorded Guest Speakers Sessions Guest speaker presentations by leaders in their field.  Audience participation in Q&A and discussion with guest speakers.

Recordings of guest speakers

Recordings Available On Demand Session recordings have on demand access for six months after the workshop ends.

Asynchronous workshop

Online Classroom + Asynchronous Workshop The virtual learning platform that holds all course content and is accessible for six months after the course ends.  Session recordings. Project-based weekly assignments.  Written feedback from an expert in the field who functions as the workshop facilitator. Peer conversation via discussion forums.

Early Access On-Demand Resources

Early Access On-Demand Resources Bonus: Register early and get access to a series of past live session archives from Library Journal and School Library Journal courses to explore at your own pace.  Some courses include supporting resources in the online classroom.