Join us on April 27 for our online course, Evaluating, Auditing, and Diversifying Your Collections, and learn how to evaluate books and media through an inclusive lens to ensure that your collections are reflective of the needs of your community and the wider perspectives and diversity of our world.  

The speaker program runs on April 27, May 4, and May 11 from 2:00-4:00PM ET and is supported by an asynchronous facilitator-led workshop spanning the three weeks. Live sessions are also made available on-demand in the event you are unable to make the scheduled time.

Register yourself or your group today!

Certificate of Completion Provided
15 PD credits available

ASL interpretation for the live sessions will be provided by
Selena Flowers and Rorri Burton of Pro Bono ASL

Live Program and Guest Speakers

Week 1: Tuesday, April 27, 2021, 2-4PM ET

Session 1 | 2:00-3:00PM ET
Collection Management and Readers’ Advisory Strategies to Enact Change at Your Library
Being aware of a lack of diversity in your library collections and having the intention to make a change is important, but having a plan of action to address these problems is where the magic happens. In this conversation between Robin Bradford and Becky Spratford, you’ll learn concrete strategies for making lasting change in your approach to collection development and readers’ advisory, ensuring your library’s collections and suggestions are diverse and inclusive.
Speakers:

Robin Bradford, Collection Development Librarian, Pierce County Library System (WA)

Becky Spratford, Readers’ Advisory Specialist

Session 2 | 3:15-4:00PM ET
Conducting a Diversity Audit of Your Collections
In this session, we’ll discuss both the process of conducting a diversity audit and what comes next after you’ve successfully audited your collection. You’ll learn how to plan a diversity audit, which salient data points should be included, how to gather the requisite information, how to set goals to address gaps, and how to make diversity and inclusion natural parts of collection management and promotion. You’ll also come away with an understanding of what to do with your data once you have it, how to create a plan of implementation, and where to go next.
Speakers:

Betsy Bird, Collection Development Manager, Evanston Public Library (IL)

Dontaná McPherson-Joseph, Collection Management Librarian, Oak Park Public Library (IL)

Week 2: Tuesday, May 4, 2021, 2–4:15PM ET

2:00-2:30PM ET |  Stereotypes, Tropes, and Cultural Appropriation: A Collection Development Deep Dive
Some common stereotypes in books and media are easy to spot—others require a more fine-tuned understanding of culture and history. In this series of enlightening sessions, you will learn how to spot problematic stereotypes and tropes and how to avoid unintentionally perpetuating such depictions. You will hear from several experts in the field about the ways that specific marginalized cultures—Native American, Asian American, African American, and LGBTQIA+—are portrayed in mainstream media, their cultural traditions misunderstood or misrepresented, and their stories appropriated by cultural outsiders. You’ll walk away with the knowledge you need to build a more representative, inclusive collection at your library or institution.
Speakers:

Session 1

Jennifer Baker, Writer, Editor, Advocate, and Founder, Minorities in Publishing podcast

Session 2:

Mahasin Abuwi Aleem, Childrens Collection Management Librarian, Oakland Public Library (CA), Co-Founder, Hijabi Librarians

Session 3:

Carson Williams, Adult Services Librarian, Benson Memorial Library (NM)

Session 4:

Kara Stewart, Author, Teacher, Literacy Specialist

Week 3: Tuesday, May 11, 2021, 2-4PM ET

Session 1 | 2:00-2:45PM ET
Librarianship During a Racial Reckoning
How do our personal identities impact the culture of our libraries? A truly inclusive library culture begins, first, with ourselves and considering how our blindspots can impact what our library spaces become. Creating libraries that reflect, and are safe for, BIPOC children and youth, is an active, ongoing practice requiring intent and unflagging effort. In this closing keynote, Dr. Kim Parker will help you think through how you can create an environment that is liberatory and reflective of diverse populations.
Speaker:

Dr. Kimberly N. Parker, Assistant Director, Teacher Training Center, Shady Hill School, Cambridge (MA)

Session 2 | 3:00-4:00PM ET
Workshop Your Diversity Audit
In this closing session of our speaker program, you’ll have an opportunity to ask your most pressing questions about your collections audit to an expert, ensuring that you are ready to enact change at your library or school right away. You’ll come away with concrete ideas to apply to your library.
Speaker:

Klem-Marí Cajigas, Family Literacy Coordinator, Nashville Public Library Foundation (TN)

View Full Program

Sessions will include ASL interpreter:

Rorri Burton, ASL Interpreter, founder of Pro Bono ASL

Collaborate with your team!
Contact us at libraryjournal@edmaker.co to learn more about our group discounts.

Unable to attend the Spring session? 
Then join us for our Fall session,
Oct 19 - Nov 2, 2021