Building and promoting a diverse library collection

How effectively am I creating and marketing a balanced library collection that represents the variety among residents of our community? As part of my studies in librarianship this semester, I plan to explore this question.

SRCSA library: Happy Thanksgiving 2025!

For Thanksgiving 2025, I wanted to express my gratitude for the many ways that our SRCSA community supports the school and supports our library. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!
https://youtu.be/1zCtfQgzoog

SRCSA library : New arrivals in September and October 2025

Here is a slideshow featuring some new arrivals during September and October 2025. Each of the books featured in this slideshow was published under the auspices of the Own Voices, Own Stories Award. This award amplifies new and diverse perspectives among children’s picture-book manuscripts.This slideshow was created in Canva. The music is Funky House by Nver Avetyan.
https://youtu.be/ub-7V8V04LY

SRCSA library : New arrivals in August and September 2025

Here is a slideshow featuring some new arrivals during August and September 2025: including a winner and an Honor Book for the 2025 Coretta Scott King Book Awards, and nominees for the California Young Reader Medal, 2025-2026. This slideshow was created in Canva. The music is Funky House by Nver Avetyan.
https://youtu.be/jF2kcvhheho

UCM, LIS 5804 : Introducing myself

I am taking graduate courses in Library and Information Science through the online program at University of Central Missouri. For Spring 2023, I am taking LIS 5804, The Public Library. I made this video to introduce myself to classmates.

Board policies help justify diverse library collections

For Fall 2022, I have been taking a course in developing and managing library collections, LIS 5250, through the University of Central Missouri. The cumulative project for LIS 5250 is to create a collection development policy.

One of our recent prompts for the class asked about serving a diverse population. Was there a component in our library philosophy that mentioned that?

LIS 5250 : Variety of formats for library collection

Citing the American Library Association’s “Selection and Reconsideration Policy Toolkit for Public, School, and Academic Libraries,” Kerby (2019, p. 26) tells us that library collections must “Include a variety of resources in physical and virtual formats.” And among its shared foundations, the American Association of School Libraries (2018, p. 98) likewise emphasizes that “The school library provides a collection of resources and materials in all formats.”

Collection development and patron requests

As a paralibrarian working in a K-8 school library, I have been confronted from time to time with requests: that the library purchase “mentor texts” for a writing program. Does the library carry a particular book? A teacher’s students need biographies of people who exhibit a “growth mindset.”

LIS 5250 : E-books in libraries

In my readings for Week 4 in LIS 5250, I focused on electronic books, or e-books, in libraries.

What formats will library include?

In my ideal library, books will continue to have a place in the library collection. But even there, “books” are not limited to the physical-codex format: eBooks, audio books, read-along story videos — all can all fall within the auspices of a library collection, as can DVDs, CDs, and research databases.

Library collections reflect diversity

In its interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights, “Diversity in Collection Development,” the American Library Association states that “Library collections must represent the diversity of people and ideas in our society” (AASL, 2018, p. 247).

For whom is my library’s collection?

Among our readings this week, Kerby (2019) states that a library needs to know the population that it serves. Whatever its type, this is for whom my library will build its collection.

‘Diversity advocacy proposal’ for district libraries

For “Cultural Competence for Librarians,” the class I am taking this month through Library Juice Academy, I was tasked this week with authoring a “diversity advocacy proposal” that would help my organization become more culturally competent. My proposal is that my school district purchase award-winning books each year for each of its school libraries.

‘Library and Community Analysis’

This week, in my course through Library Juice Academy, I was tasked with creating a “Library and Community Analysis.” One aspect of that analysis was to describe services and resources that the library provides to meet the needs of diverse individuals.

LIS 5100 : Professional associations

My studies this week for LIS 5100, “Foundations of Librarianship,” included an exploration of professional library associations. I shared the benefits I’ve derived from two association memberships, the American Library Association and the Association for Library Service to Children.

LIS 5100 : Exploring the ‘Diverse BookFinder’

Each year, the American Association of School Librarians highlights the “Best Digital Tools for Teaching & Learning,” which are recognized “for fostering qualities of Innovation/Creativity, Active Participation, Collaboration, User-Friendly, Encourages Exploration, and Information/Reference” (AASL, 2021). For my studies this week in LIS 5100, “Foundations of Librarianship,” I was tasked with describing one of these apps. I chose the “Diverse BookFinder.”

LIS 5100 : Diverse populations need diverse library collections

In our reading this week for LIS 5100, Foundations of Librarianship, we learned that the populations and communities we serve are increasingly diverse. The Rubins cite a finding by Frey (2019) that “Hispanics comprise 18.3% of the population; African Americans, 12.5%; and Asians, 5.9%” (Rubin 2020, p. 69).

LIS 5100 : Digital collections in libraries

Among “Discussions” this week for LIS 5100, Foundations of Librarianship, I responded to a post concerning a fully-digital future for libraries.

Book-Talk: Cover reveal for Lauren Tarshis’s latest book

Lauren Tarshis shared the cover-reveal this week, for the newest book in her popular “I Survived” series: I Survived the California Wildfires, 2018. Here’s the first “Book-Talk” in what I hope will be an ongoing series of videos.

Award winners in SRCSA library

Among new arrivals in the library at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts: some 2019 Medal and Honor-Book recipients of the American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards. Each year, the ALA recognizes “the best” among children’s and young adult literature. In the photo: this partial view shows a few of the recent honorees. There were more books in this counter-top display than I could fit in the frame — and a few books are missing from the display, for the absolute best of reasons: that is, the books have found their way into readers’ hands. Appreciation to the School for the Arts Community Organization, which financed purchasing new books for the library.