Create and protect library collections that are inclusive and reflect a diverse range of people, stories, and experiences by learning how to conduct a diversity audit, ensure representation, and defend your collections against censorship challenges.
You will learn tangible skills that you can use right away to build inclusive collections and protect intellectual freedom with our upcoming courses. Keep reading to learn more about each course and the group discounts we offer!
Course Overview: Resisting Book Bans: A Crash Course to Defend Intellectual Freedom
The last few years have seen a drastic uptick in book bans and curriculum challenges. As a librarian, teacher, administrator, or trustee, it can be difficult to know your options for managing these challenges and advocating for intellectual freedom and diverse educational materials. This crash course will focus on proactive preparation to ensure you are set up for success. Live sessions will be available on-demand.
After you attend this interactive online course and workshop, you’ll be able to:
Advocate for your programs, curricula, collections, and services
Conduct a policy audit and ensure your protections are up to date and comprehensive
Make a plan to find allies and build coalitions to support you
Access resources and communities dealing with similar challenges
Develop and refer to talking points and best practices for speaking at school board meetings and connecting with stakeholders and community members
Featured Course: How To Build and Defend Inclusive Collections
In this course, you’ll learn from an outstanding group of experts as they explore key concepts essential to cultivating and promoting inclusive and equitable collections. You’ll 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.
After you attend this interactive online course and workshop, you’ll be able to:
Assess current library collections, book promotions, and displays through a diverse lens in order to assess gaps in collections and service areas
Understand key diversity and cultural literacy concepts such as white privilege, unconscious bias, cultural appropriation, and intersectionality
Recognize common problematic stereotypes, tropes, and microaggressions in media
Assess the diversity and inclusiveness of current collection development and RA practices
Plan and execute a diversity audit
Diversify collections and displays with cultural humility and confidence