We Need Diverse Books: LJ ‘Mover & Shaker’

For the first time since Library Journal began recognizing the profession’s “Movers & Shakers,” an organization is included among its annual honorees.

Each year, LJ recognizes library workers who transform libraries and “breed change” in the profession. With its selection of We Need Diverse Books, LJ honors thousands of people — including authors, publishers, library workers and readers — who joined their efforts to increase the diversity in books for children and young adults.

“It began as a Twitter exchange on April 17, 2014, between YA authors Ellen Oh and Malinda Lo, who expressed their frustration with the lack of diversity at BookCon’s May 31 event—an all-white, all-male author panel had been announced for the convention for book fans to be held the following month. YA author Aisha Saeed first used the #WeNeedDiverseBooks (WNDB) hashtag on Twitter on April 24, and it took off, officially trending for the first time on April 29. Other kid lit fans joined to raise awareness about the dearth of people of color, people with disabilities, and transgender individuals in children’s books with a three-day event (May 1–3). BookCon soon added several panels on diverse books to its 2014 roster.”

As a library worker, interested reader and an autistic adult, I am proud to contribute my energies to the We Need Diverse Books movement.