In Evaluating, Auditing, and Diversifying Your Collections, our online course starting October 19, 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 audit of your collections, and learn how to include diverse books, wider perspectives, and how to be both more responsive to the community you serve and more reflective of the diversity of our world.

In Week 2 of our course, you’ll learn how to assess materials in your current and future collections, recognize common problematic stereotypes, tropes, and microaggressions, and how to choose better materials in our collection development deep dive.

Here’s what one participant had to say:

“This course was an awesome refresher in the importance of diversity in collection development, but was also a deep dive into the specific trends and tropes to be aware of. It encouraged me to take an in-depth look at the diversity of our fiction collection, rather than just doing mental "diversity checks" when I order. I am really looking forward to the process and results of my diversity audit so I can strengthen my collection further.”
—Samantha Stryker Basile, Community and Adult Services Librarian, Richmond Memorial Library

Certificate of Completion Provided
15 PD credits available

Week 2: Tuesday, October 26, 2021, 2:00–4:15PM 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 | 2:00-2:30PM ET

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

Session 2 | 2:30-3:00PM ET

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

Hadeal Salamah, Lower and Middle School Librarian, Georgetown Day School, Washington DC

Intermission | 3:00-3:15PM ET

Session 3 | 3:15-3:45PM ET

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

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

Kara Stewart, Author, Teacher, Literacy Specialist

View Full Program!

Register early and get immediate access to our foundational bonus content—rich supporting materials you can explore at your own pace, including a series of webinars from Library Journal and School Library Journal contributors,  readings, activities, and videos!

And there’s more!

Round out your development by adding our one-day ‘Read Woke’ course extension:

From Collection to Action: A One-Day ‘Read Woke’ Mini Course with Cicely Lewis
Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2:00-4:00PM ET
When you attend the one-day Read Woke online mini-course, you’ll come away with: 

• A clear goal and mission statement for the program you want to implement
• A Read Woke reading list
• Ideas for school-public partnerships
• Fundraising solutions to consider
• Lesson plan ideas to incorporate ReadWoke into classroom

Send your team and increase your impact!

Contact libraryjournal@edmaker.co for group discounts.