The Importance of Diverse, Multicultural Literature in School Libraries
Anne Endres LIS 701
INTRODUCTION
In today’s global climate, it is now more
important than ever that school librarians
advocate for and curate a multicultural
and diverse collection of literature. “By
including diversity in its programs and
collections, the library has the potential
for helping children make cross-cultural
connections and develop the skills
necessary to function in a culturally
pluralistic society” (Naidoo, 2014).
REFERENCES
Bishop, R. S. (1990). Windows, Mirrors and Sliding Glass
Doors. Perspectives: Choosing and Using Books for
the Classroom, 6(3).
Crisp, T., Knezek, S. M., Quinn, M., Bingham, G. E.,
Girardeau, K., & Starks, F. (2016). What’s on Our
Bookshelves? The Diversity of Children’s Literature
in Early Childhood Classroom Libraries. Journal of
Children’s Literature, 42(2), 29–42.
Grasso, M. (2016). The importance of multicultural
literature. SCIS Connections, (96), 4–5. Retrieved
from https://www.scisdata.com/connections/
issue-96/the-importance-of-multicultural-
literature
Green, C. R., Scott, E. K. G., & Oldendorf, S. B.
(2011). Religious Diversity and Children’s
Literature : Strategies and Resources. Information
Age Publishing.
Hinton-Johnson, K., & Dickinson, G. (2005). Guiding
Young Readers to Multicultural Literature. Library
Media Connection, 23(7), 42–43.
Ishizuka, K. (2018). Can Diverse Books Save Us? School
Library Journal, 64(11), 28.
Naidoo, J. C. (2014). The Importance of Diversity in
Library Programs and Material Collections for
Children. Chicago, IL: Association for Library
Service to Children.
Steiner, S. F. (1998). Who Belongs Here? Portraying
American identity in children’s picture books.
Multicultural Review, 7(2), 20-27
Winter, J. (2019). Equity Through Diversity: The
Importance of LGBTQ Titles in Our Elementary
School Libraries. CSLA Journal, 43(1), 5–8.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF
DIVERSE, MULTICULTURAL
COLLECTIONS
As children develop, they need to form a
“sense of belonging and acceptance in
society” (Grasso, 2016). Diverse library
materials affirm to all that “the beliefs and
experiences of minority students are
valued (Steiner, 1998).
Benefits of Diverse Materials
A report by the Association for Library
Service to Children lists the following
benefits of diversity in children’s
materials (Naidoo, 2014):
• Provide positive role models for
culturally diverse children;
• Introduce children to characters with
similar experiences and emotions;
• Convey the richness and beauty of the
diverse cultures in the United States;
• Reinforce a distinct cultural identity;
• Promote multilingual and literacy
development;
• Inspire learning of other cultures and
general cultural knowledge;
• Facilitate acceptance of cultures
different from one’s own; and
• Foster global connections.
Importance of Diverse and
Multicultural Collections
When you consider these effects, the
beneficial effects of diverse and
multicultural materials become clear.
As Hinton-Johnson and Dickinson (2005)
conclude, “Multicultural resources are not
add-ons, but are an essential element in
the [library] planning process.”
DIVERSITY AND
MULTICULTURALISM
TAKE ON MANY FORMS
Sexual Identity
Research shows that 8% of 8 to 18-year-
olds identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, or questioning. Even more
will have a family member from these
groups (Winter, 2019).
Socioeconomic Status and Class
While many families struggle with
poverty, (Crisp, et al. 2016) found less
than 3% of children’s books explicitly
confronted issues of economic insecurity.
Race
Literature featuring racially diverse
characters is both difficult to find and in
high demand across all non-white racial
groups (Ishizuka, 2018).
Disability Status
Disabilities are something often not
spoken of in literature. A School Library
Journal survey found characters with
disabilities among the most-needed
categories (Ishizuka, 2018).
Cultural
Children must see themselves in books
they read in order to feel valued in the
society they are part of (Bishop, 1990).
Religious
Children are better prepared to live with
and understand others if they appreciate
diverse religious and spiritual practices
(Green, et al. 2011).
PUTTING DIVERSE AND
MULTICULTURAL LIBRARY
COLLECTIONS TO USE
Displays
Cultural and historical events such as
Poetry Month, Black History Month, etc.
provide opportunities for a variety of
displays over the course of a school year.
Tables and shelves in prominent areas of
the library can be set aside to highlight
different topics and themes from the year
collection.
Book Talks
When selecting books to preview for
students, librarians can choose materials
that reflect the diverse, multicultural
nature of the collection. This exposure
can inspire kids to pick up new reads that
can challenge them.
Reading Lists
Making diverse, thematic lists of books is
another way to inspire students to read
outside the realm of their understanding
and experience. Lists can be a useful
tool because it gives children multiple
options within the theme and empowers
them to decide what is important to them.
Book Swaps
Having students exchange their selected
reading materials can be a great strategy
to expose students to other perspectives.
Curricular Integration
Librarians can help teachers select
diverse resources relevant to support
topics being studied in their classrooms.