Why Focus on Diversity in Children's Collections?
Jordana Finlay
As I’ve begun to sort through the collection of my school library since I inherited it a few months ago, I have been putting a lot of thought and energy into making sure that we have a diverse collection of children’s materials. The school where I work is dramatically lacking in diversity overall- it is a Jewish school with the requirement that all students be Jewish. Our student body is 98% caucasian and very few students receive tuition assistance. The school has very few resources for students with cognitive or physical disabilities, so students with those needs are not typically drawn to our school.
A lot of the writing about the importance of diversity in children’s media discusses the importance of children being able to see themselves reflected back. In the case of my students, it is almost more important that they are exposed to other experiences in order to grow empathy and a wider world view. The author of the below linked article points out that libraries are “spaces that welcome children to explore, discover, and connect to the larger world, libraries can play an integral role in helping them develop understanding and respect for other people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.” Campbell Naidoo talks about the five Fs often used to incorporate diversity into collections and programming: “foods, festivals, folklore, fashion, and famous people of a particular culture.” She notes that in and of itself, introducing new cultures this way isn’t the worst, but truly we should be incorporating diverse stories into everyday themes and displays. I will be taking a lot away from this article as I work to grow my collection.
Campbell Naidoo, J. (2014, April 5). The importance of diversity in library programs and material. Association for Library Service to Children.
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