Diversity and Inclusion in Library Collections

Diversity and inclusion in library collections is a real-world issue that plays a large part in who
and what information resources are presented to their community. There are many pieces to
any problem and many contexts in which issues may be expressed, discussed, or interpreted.
Library collections must represent the diversity of people and ideas in our society and every
community they support. Correcting past tropes and change is possible by having
professional groups and communities push for diversity and inclusion in every aspect of the
library.
ALA’s core value is promoting diversity inclusion both in the resources they provide and, in
the staff, and how we engage with our community. According to Kolosa, research has shown
that the collection diversity is linked to two things its staff that directly influence the sources
of the comprehensive learning process. Collection creation not having resources with
intersecting characters, characters with diverse backgrounds, sexuality, family structures, and
disabilities should be included in the library collections (Kolosa, 2022). Creating new ways to
diversify staffing to closely mirror the demographic makeup of their communities. Most
institutions have been trying to adopt new ways to improve the diversity in their collections
with integrated programming, collection review, community outreach, and diverse hiring
practices. Understanding the library as a social infrastructure providing the setting and
context for social participation as a necessary form today (Reporter, 2020).

Smith, M. (2019). Top Ten Challenges Facing Public Libraries. Public Library Quarterly, 38(3), 241–247.
https://doi.org/10.1080/01616846.2019.1608617

Kolosa, R. (2022, July 14). Inclusion And Diversity At Libraries. Princh. https://princh.com/blog-inclusion-and-
diversity-at-libraries/

B.3 Diversity (Old Number 60). (2018, November 16). About ALA.
https://www.ala.org/aboutala/governance/policymanual/updatedpolicymanual/section2/3diversity

Baildon, M. (2017, May 9). Creating a Social Justice Mindset: Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice in the
Collections Directorate of the MIT Libraries. https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/108771

Reporter, G. S. (2020, February 3). Palaces for the people: why libraries are more than just books. The Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/sep/24/palaces-for-the-people-at-the-library-everyone-is-welcome