Learn to create library collections that are inclusive and reflect a diverse range of people, stories, and experiences.

Course Description 

Library collections must be diverse and inclusive, offering windows into and reflections of the vast array of people, stories and experiences that make up our world. In this course, you’ll learn from a group of experts as they explore key concepts essential to cultivating and promoting inclusive collections. You’ll gain the tools to conduct a diversity and inclusion audit of your collections, and hear about ways to include wider perspectives from and about LGBTQIA+ people, Black, indigenous, and people of color, and historically underrepresented ethnicities, cultures, and religions. You’ll learn how to ensure that your collections are more reflective of the diversity of your community and the larger world and how to establish policies for keeping your inclusive collections safe against book challenges.

The live sessions run on Thursdays, Oct. 24, 31 and Nov. 7, 2024 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm (recorded for on demand viewing) with an asynchronous workshop over 3 weeks. Don’t miss this opportunity!

Who should take this course?

This course is for any librarian who influences or manages library collections and materials.

Course Features 

This will be a 3-week online course and will include:

• Live sessions: Guest speaker presentations by leaders in their field. (All sessions are recorded for on demand access for six months after the course ends.) 

• Facilitated discussions: Audience participation in Q&A and discussion with guest speakers.

• Interactive working sessions: Optional breakout groups during live sessions to practice skills with peers.

• Asynchronous workshop: Project-based weekly assignments to connect what you’re learning to your professional life. Includes written feedback from an expert in the field who functions as the workshop facilitator, as well as peer conversation via discussion forums.

• Early access on-demand resources: Access to a series of past live session archives from Library Journal and School Library Journal courses to explore at your own pace. 

• Online Classroom: The virtual learning platform that holds all course content and is accessible for six months after the course ends. 

Expected time commitment

If you attend or watch the recordings of all live sessions and participate fully in the asynchronous workshop, you'll spend approximately 2-4 hours per week on this course. You'll earn 15 hours of PD credit and a Library Journal certificate of completion. 

On-demand access

All live guest speaker sessions are recorded and available on-demand for six months following the initial broadcast as a part of your purchase.

Certificate of completion 

Complete the course and earn 15 professional development credit hours. We provide a certificate that is emailed to you. 

Accessibility

All guest speaker sessions feature live captioning and are made available on demand after the initial broadcast. Please email libraryjournal@edmaker.co upon registration if you require any special accommodations and we will make our best efforts to facilitate them.

Support

For support with online courses, please contact libraryjournal@edmaker.co.

Group Rates

We offer discounts for groups of 3 or more. Groups have the option to collaborate in the same workshop group, where discussions and project-based assignments receive feedback from an experienced librarian.

For larger groups of 15 or more, we offer the option to apply group rates across multiple courses to receive significant discounts. For more information, select “Bulk Course Credits Packages” in the form below. 

Request a group discount!

By registering for this event you confirm that you have read and agree to our Code of Conduct.

Week 1: Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Establishing goals and priorities: Defining inclusive collections and learning how to build and maintain them

Session 1 | 2:00-2:45 pm ET

Creating Inclusive Library Collections

While it’s important to ensure our collections are diverse, what does it mean to ensure they are truly inclusive? In this session, we’ll discuss why moving toward inclusive library collections is a crucial step in advancing equity and justice at our institutions. You’ll learn from an expert how to assess your collections as they are now, and hear what considerations to make when ordering and weeding. We’ll also touch on how to address some of the challenges to materials in your collection and how to advocate for underrepresented voices that must be included.

Break | 2:45-3:00 pm ET

Session 2 | 3:00-3:45 pm ET

Conducting a Diversity Audit of Your Collections and Ordering: Where to Start 

In this session, we’ll discuss the process of conducting a diversity audit of both your collections and your ordering. You’ll learn how to plan a diversity audit, which salient data points should be included, how to gather the requisite information, and how to set goals to address gaps. We’ll discuss the step-by-step process for establishing your diversity audit and how to make diversity and inclusion natural and ongoing parts of collection management and promotion.

Session 3 | 3:45-4:15pm ET

Metrics for Inclusive Collections: Goals, Benchmarks, and Evaluation 

What are realistic goals to set for creating inclusive collections? What kinds of metrics and data are most helpful in evaluating whether you are reaching your benchmarks? This session will discuss data-driven metrics to help your processes as you develop your collection, weed, and conduct a diversity audit.  

Workshop Explanation & Q&A | 4:15-4:30pm ET

An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course

Week 2: Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Preparing for your collection assessment: Identifying harmful – and amplifying authentic – stories in our library materials

From Margin to Center: A Collection Development Deep Dive, Part 1

Not all representation is good representation, and in this series of enlightening sessions, you’ll learn how to identify the harmful and amplify the affirming. You will hear from several experts in the field about the ways that specific identities are portrayed in mainstream media, their traditions misunderstood or misrepresented, and their stories appropriated by cultural outsiders. You’ll learn how to spot problematic stereotypes and tropes and how to avoid perpetuating such depictions. You’ll walk away with the tools you need - and a trove of resources - to build a more inclusive and affirming collection at your library or institution and become an advocate for storytelling that moves beyond representation and towards real inclusion.

Session 1 | Black Stories in Library Collections | 2:00-2:35 pm ET

Session 2 | Muslim Stories in Library Collections | 2:35-3:05 pm ET

Break | 3:05-3:15 pm ET

Session 3 | Queer Stories in Library Collections | 3:15-3:50 pm ET

Session 4 | Inclusive Publishers | 3:50-4:20 pm ET

Learn about specific publishers who are publishing unique and inclusive books you might consider adding to your collections. 

Workshop Explanation & Q&A | 4:20-4:30 pm ET

An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course

Week 3: Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Beginning your audit and defending inclusive collections

From Margin to Center: A Collection Development Deep Dive, Part 2

Not all representation is good representation, and in this series of enlightening sessions, you’ll learn how to identify the harmful and amplify the affirming. You will hear from several experts in the field about the ways that specific identities are portrayed in mainstream media, their traditions misunderstood or misrepresented, and their stories appropriated by cultural outsiders. You’ll learn how to spot problematic stereotypes and tropes and how to avoid perpetuating such depictions. You’ll walk away with the tools you need - and a trove of resources - to build a more inclusive and affirming collection at your library or institution and become an advocate for storytelling that moves beyond representation and towards real inclusion.

Session 1 | Native American Stories in Library Collections | 2:00-2:35 pm ET

Session 2 | Disability Stories in Library Collections | 2:35-3:05 pm ET

Break | 3:05-3:15pm ET

Session 3 | 3:15-4:00 pm ET

Assessing and Revising Your Collection Management Policies to Protect Your Collections and Yourself

As you create more inclusive collections, it’s critical to assess your current collections policies so that you are equipped to handle both informal and formal book challenges and have conversations with patrons that promote your inclusive and affirming materials. Having clear procedures, protocols, and messaging in place can provide a strong foundation for collection development work as well as protect frontline staff. Assessing your policies and procedures and how they are communicated with your community is a key piece of your advocacy work.

Session 4 | 4:00-4:25 pm ET

Sustaining Collection Assessment Momentum

Collection assessment work is never done, and in this session, we’ll discuss what is required to build and sustain momentum for this iterative process. You’ll come away with tools and strategies for assessing and understanding the impact of your initial auditing approach, as well as considerations for expanding and refining for the future.

Workshop Explanation & Q&A | 4:25-4:30pm ET

An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course

Online Course Preview

A preview of how we build your library skills and bring inspiration to your projects with our online learning experience.

Course Format

One-Week Timeline (Course Runs 3+ Weeks)

DAYS 1-2 On-Demand	DAY 3 2 hours	DAYS 4-7 1-2 hours (optional)
PRE-LIVE SESSION - Resources - Discussions - Bonus Content	LIVE SESSIONS - Guest speakers via webcast -  Facilitated discussions - Recordings available for 6 months	ASYNCHRONOUS WORKSHOP - Project-based weekly assignments - Written feedback from a facilitator - Peer conversation via discussion forums

Course Features

Live session with Andrea Blackman and Tasneem Ansariyah Grace	Live Guest Speakers Sessions Guest speaker presentations by leaders in their field.  Audience participation in Q&A and discussion with guest speakers. Optional interactive working sessions with breakout groups during live sessions to practice skills with peers.

Recordings of guest speakers

Recordings Available On Demand Sessions are recorded for on demand access for six months after the course ends.

Asynchronous workshop

Online Classroom + Asynchronous Workshop The virtual learning platform that holds all course content and is accessible for six months after the course ends.  Live session recordings. Project-based weekly assignments.  Written feedback from an expert in the field who functions as the workshop facilitator. Peer conversation via discussion forums.

Early Access On-Demand Resources

Early Access On-Demand Resources Bonus: Register early and get access to a series of past live session archives from Library Journal and School Library Journal courses to explore at your own pace.  Some courses include supporting resources in the online classroom.