February 2023 | Diverse Collection Support Toolkit
Committee Updates
Ongoing work to make the Digital Library collection more inclusive of all users continues to be a focus in the 2023-2025 initiatives proposed by the Collection Development Committee. Specific activities include:
Ongoing work to make the Digital Library collection more inclusive of all users continues to be a focus in the 2023-2025 initiatives proposed by the Collection Development Committee. Specific activities include:
- Continue to regularly monitor one aspect of the inclusiveness of the collection through scheduled diversity audits.
- Leverage shelf talkers in a coordinated way to promote overlooked/underrepresented content through readers' advisory efforts.
- Continue to support selectors in their "front-end" audits, ensuring that purchased materials are as inclusive as possible.
Project Manager Updates
This month marks the last monthly module of this toolkit. Starting in April this year, we will shift to a quarterly publication schedule as well as some other changes/updates. To help us continue to build a toolkit that is helpful in your work, we'd love your feedback. We have a Google form that you can fill out, and/or, we'll bring some questions to the Selection Committee meeting in March.
Diverse Collection Action Plan Ideas | February
This month marks the last monthly module of this toolkit. Starting in April this year, we will shift to a quarterly publication schedule as well as some other changes/updates. To help us continue to build a toolkit that is helpful in your work, we'd love your feedback. We have a Google form that you can fill out, and/or, we'll bring some questions to the Selection Committee meeting in March.
Diverse Collection Action Plan Ideas | February
- Twice a year, WPLC requests a diversity audit report from OverDrive. Check out the most recent report and read below for some key takeaways and documentation to explore:
- The share of what OverDrive calls "diverse" titles within the overall digital library collection continues to grow gradually, from ~7.8% (2021 baseline audit) to ~9.3% (Jan 2023 audit).
- OverDrive's supplementary materials include info about BISAC Codes/Categories, as well as a wealth of Marketplace book lists.
Resource or Tool of the Month
LGBTQ Reads is a blog that spotlights books that feature LGBTQ+ characters and themes for readers of all ages. Tip: Explore the top menu of drop-downs to find books by genre like romance, nonfiction, and memoir/essay, and to see books through various intersectional lenses (for example, books that feature stories at the intersection of race, ethnicity and LGBTQ+ themes, or for stories that feature nonbinary characters).
Stay in touch
We encourage you to comment on this and other modules, add YOUR tips and suggestions, or email us with ideas for future modules. We are excited to hear from and learn from you! Find the complete toolkit here.
Keywords: diversity audit, collection development, Marketplace, book lists
LGBTQ Reads is a blog that spotlights books that feature LGBTQ+ characters and themes for readers of all ages. Tip: Explore the top menu of drop-downs to find books by genre like romance, nonfiction, and memoir/essay, and to see books through various intersectional lenses (for example, books that feature stories at the intersection of race, ethnicity and LGBTQ+ themes, or for stories that feature nonbinary characters).
Stay in touch
We encourage you to comment on this and other modules, add YOUR tips and suggestions, or email us with ideas for future modules. We are excited to hear from and learn from you! Find the complete toolkit here.
Keywords: diversity audit, collection development, Marketplace, book lists