Children’s Librarians Are Experts at Building Collections That Reflect Their Communities

One of the things I love most about my job is collection development.  I love keeping an eye out for titles that may appeal to one or two reluctant readers I know, and buying books that I think may become new favorites. What I really love though, is buying books that beautifully reflect my local and global communities in an accurate way.

I am sure that many of you are familiar with the concept of “Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors”, eloquently coined and explained by Rudine Sims Bishop.  Books can serve as mirrors for ourselves- reaffirming our place in a larger world. Books can also serve as windows- allowing us to look into the world of others. They can also be sliding glass doors, allowing readers to step into the other world created by an author

Four years ago, I wrote a guest post for the ALSC blog about the difference between Multicultural and Diverse literature, and why authenticity is important – the message is still important now.  Through these reads, kids learn about themselves and others. The books become  the “mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors.”  While many of us know all of this, at times, the realization does not always make it easier when finding books and resources that highlight the diversity that is within our communities.

I thought I would begin to compile a list of resources that either I use or others have recommended, either on discussion lists or in person.  If you have one that is not listed, please add it in the comments, and I will edit the post, and add it.   Please know this is not a definitive list, but rather a starting point!

•  We’re the People/We are Kid Lit Collective
• See What We See Database
• American Indians in Children’s Literature
• WOWLit
• The Center for Children’s Books
• Rich in Color
• Queer Books for Teens
• Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association Awards
• Sydney Taylor Book Award 
• Schneider Family Book Award
• Children’s Books about the Diversity Experience
• Children’s Book Council Diverse Kids and YA Lit
• Anansesem
• Brown Bookshelf 
• Disability in Kidlit  
• Latinxs in Kidlit 
• OurStory (from We Need Diverse Books)
• I’m Here, I’m Queer, What the Hell Do I Read?  (geared towards MG and YA)
•  Asian Author Alliance  (coming soon!!)

Something missing? Please add it in the comments below!

This post addresses the following ALSC Core Competencies: I. Commitment to Client Group and IV. Knowledge, Curation, and Management of Materials.