Understanding Diversity

This isn’t the column I wanted to write. Inquiries from the field in the days following the June 17 church shootings in Charleston, South Carolina, changed my direction and sent me to the stacks to see what recent material may assist librarians who are asked for reading suggestions to enhance understanding of diversity or who are tasked with developing community programming on this complex topic.

Even if we would like, we cannot know every book in our collection; nor is it likely that we will know the reading interests of every patron. How then do we advise those looking for reading suggestions? Crash Course in Readers’ Advisory, by Cynthia Orr, reviews the basics of readers’ advisory services, starting with a restatement of two of Ranganathan’s laws: “Every reader, his or her book. Every book, its reader.” Following an overview of the importance of stories, the impact of reading, and tips for understanding the reader, the literature, and genres currently in vogue, Orr offers guidance on working with people and tips for identifying books to suggest. There are extensive lists of resources, both on readers’ advisory services and the tools for winnowing through the literature to find the right book or group of books to incorporate into a programmatic offering.

Indexed. Libraries Unlimited, 2015. 173 p. $45. PBK. 978-1-61069-825-2 (Also available as an ebook.)

Many readers’ advisory tools are geared to children. Coretta Scott King Award Books Discussion Guide: Pathways to Democracy and The Coretta Scott King Awards, 1970–2014, fifth edition, both edited by Carole J. McCollough and Adelaide Poniatowski Phelps, are no exception. These books provide a wealth of information about books, authors, and illustrators who have won this award over the past 45 years. The discussion guide in particular takes an in-depth look at many titles, offering summaries, discussion openers, some leading questions and activities for follow-up, and books for further discussion. The books are grouped by age range, and each has been selected to open conversation on a core democratic value, such as the pursuit of happiness, justice, and equality. The award winners are a rich resource of fiction, historical fiction, poetry, and nonfiction.

Indexed. ALA Editions, 2014. 280 p. $46. PBK. 978-0-8389-3604-7

Indexed. ALA Editions, 2015. 192 p. $50. PBK.978-0-8389-3610-8

Jamie Campbell Naidoo takes on the importance of developing cultural competence—or the ability to link one’s own cultural experiences and heritage to the larger world—through programming. In Diversity Programming for Digital Youth: Promoting Cultural Competence in the Children’s Library, Naidoo looks at the impact of digital media in children’s lives and how it is present in contemporary libraries. After reviewing a number of cultural and digital literacy programs, the author offers criteria for selecting appropriate media, along with sources for additional materials.

Indexed. Libraries Unlimited, 2014. 187 p. $55. 978-1-61069-487-2 (Also available as an ebook.)

Archives Alive: Expanding Engagement with Public Library Archives and Special Collections, by Diantha Dow Schull, documents another form of collection-based programming. The 100 projects described by Schull are the result of evolutions in the identity of the public library from a static repository to a source of learning and engagement; in digital technologies transforming information delivery; and in the role of archives and special collections in education and community building. The ideas offered in this compilation can be implemented using local collections, along with growing online resources.

Indexed. ALA Editions, 2015. 352 p. $65. PBK. 978-0-8389-1335-2

Interpreting Native American History and Culture at Museums and Historic Sites, by Raney Bench, is not about programming in libraries. However, the suggestions for initiating programs and building trust across the communities whose lives, culture, and history are documented in the archives will be helpful in developing culturally sensitive programming. Of particular importance are the suggestions for respecting traditions even as they are being interpreted to an external audience. There are several case studies describing effective programs.

Indexed. Rowman & Littlefield, 2014. 148 p. $29.95. PBK. 978-0-7591-2338-0 (Also available as an ebook.)

Latest Library Links

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Joe Árvai writes: “As artificial intelligence (AI) creeps further into people’s daily lives, so do worries about it. At the most alarmist are concerns about AI going rogue and terminating its human masters. But my own research as a psychologist who studies how people make decisions leads me to believe that all these risks are overshadowed by an even more corrupting, though largely invisible, threat. That is, AI is mere keystrokes away from making people even less disciplined and skilled when it comes to thoughtful decisions.”

The Conversation, Apr. 12
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Tess Prendergast writes: “As someone who teaches contemporary children’s literature, I have been following the surge of picture books about climate and environment topics for several years. While there has been some great scholarly research about such books, I have devised a simple framework for grouping these kinds of books. This four-tiered categorization may help you decided what to read, suggest, or display in various scenarios and for different audiences.”

ALSC Blog, Apr. 11
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Max Eddy writes: “It’s a nightmare scenario: You’ve protected all of your online accounts with two-factor authentication (2FA), but then your phone is broken, lost, or stolen, and you’re locked out of everything. Past You’s effort to protect Future You has made Present You’s life a living hell. 2FA is supposed to keep attackers and scammers out of your online accounts, but what if something happens to your second factor? With a little planning, you can reduce that risk and still keep your accounts safe.”

New York Times Wirecutter, Apr. 12
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Nik Altenberg writes: “About 100 librarians and their supporters rallied outside San Francisco Public Library’s Main Library on April 9 to demand the city hire security guards for every branch. Workers decried a lack of security at most of the city’s branches and said they are often forced to de-escalate volatile situations and step into the role of providing security themselves. The rally is the latest in a series of union actions [from 10 unions representing more than 25,000 city workers across city departments] seeking to draw attention to what they say is a pervasive understaffing crisis.”

KQED-TV (San Francisco), Apr. 9
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“Two years after Brooklyn Public Libraries’ (BPL) launch of Books Unbanned, an initiative to protect the freedom to read for young people, In Their Own Words: Youth Voices on Books Unbanned gives new insight into the impact of censorship on teen and young adults across the US and how restrictions and other barriers to access build upon and reinforce each other. The new report, published April 11 by BPL and Seattle Public Library, analyzes 855 stories shared by young people who signed up for a free Books Unbanned ecard from April 2022 through December 2023.”

Seattle Public Library, Apr. 11
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Samantha Guss, Sojourna Cunningham, and Jennifer Stout write: “Recruitment and retention are both critical to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in academic libraries, and failing to improve retention has and will continue to derail these initiatives. Research that addresses retention tends to focus on proposed strategies, such as stay interviews (structured interviews aimed at strengthening employee and employer relationships) and mentorship programs. But there is no agreed-upon definition of retention that would allow us to assess these strategies. We should recognize that involuntary staying can be just as negative an outcome for the individual and the organization as leaving, setting the stage for legacy toxicity.”

In The Library With The Lead Pipe, Apr. 10
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Jackie Edwards writes: “As spring rolls around, seasonal allergies can flare up among library workers, resulting in symptoms like sneezing; runny or stuffy nose; itchy eyes, ears, and nose; coughing; and asthma. Not only are these symptoms detrimental to well-being and productivity, but they can also mean you’re less able to provide excellent customer service to library users. Fortunately, by purifying the air, preventing mold, and keeping your work area clean, you can improve indoor air quality and combat allergies in your library.”

Library Worklife, Apr.