Hello everybody and welcome
to the Junior Library Guild.
First web cast of the year on today.
We're going to be talking about
demand diversity why diverse
titled are a must in your library.
So I'm just going to go over a
few housekeeping things here.
So just so you know the web cast is
being recorded, and we will send you
guys out an email with that recording.
I'm so you can refer back to it,
so you don't have to be
writing everything down.
We're also gonna be sending you.
Or we can I'm gonna have links to all
the books mentioned all the graphics
and a summary of what was said.
Um there's going to be an opportunity at
the end for everybody to ask questions.
So feel free to use the Q&A Field in
the left half platform put those in.
There is also a resource box that
will have special offers their offers
for free books in our invention,
Whiteman categories.
And a special deal for our members to
get $9 books that are mentioned in the
webcast so be sure to look for that.
I'd like to introduce our
presenters drew Scott.
Uhm he's assailed senior sales
manager here at Junior Library
Guild and Angela Christianson.
She hasn't M LS degree and does
a lot of help. Things here.
Just to go over a quick, um file of
them Angela graduated with her MLIS.
Let me Illinois University
of Illinois in 1999,
she's been working in public
libraries for 7 years with the.
Metropolitan library.
On she did some work with incarcerated
teens while she was there,
the juvenile detention center.
Um and she took a gig at working
in healthcare in database
management before she came to us.
Um she has a background as being
both LGBT in an adoptee so she has a
really unique perspective on what the label.
As other means you're really
excited to hear from her.
Andrew graduated from the
Ohio State University.
And now serves on the JLG team as the
senior sales manager grown up with
a lot of educators with his family.
So he's really interested in
literature and it's really important
to learn how to share information
having the opportunity to see.
Different perspective through
literature for him. So.
That being said.
I'm I'm just gonna take it of- to do,
and Angela.
Thank you guys
everybody. Thanks for coming today.
Absolutely. Thank you so much will
excited talk with you and spend a
little time with you today and just.
Cover this topic.
There's so many things going on in things
that face our world in fates our youth.
So being a part of that and how
we can expand their horizons to
literature is really important.
So jumping right into it.
Let's start with a word about words.
So the word diverse.
Is defined as being different?
Having unique qualities in
Unalike from one another.
But I'm sure you can imagine
it's misused all the time.
As we are referring to people or things.
You see rather than talk about what
you need and unlike each other.
It really comes down to what is not the norm?
What's not mainstream?
So during the presentation today.
We're going to Denver to not
talk about a specific title.
But rather talk about how having
diverse titles as a group.
In your library collection can
expand the horizons and better
represent the students that you
have in your community.
All right thanks girl.
I will happy there.
So be yourself right,
I'm sure you've heard this.
It's something that is in a lot
of children's books. And Hey.
We want to celebrate what's
different about one another.
Or at least that's what we tell
our giraffes or a mole rat.
Or even our crayons.
But so often in young literature
or why books it's not the
same when it comes to people.
They're often not represented
or missing representation.
It just doesn't fully fill
what we're looking for.
What you're saying is?
All of my books talking about others
or animals or crayons exactly are
more often than not more often than
not especially in the little box.
So Walter Dean Myers thought about
how not being able to see himself
in literature had a detrimental
effect on him, it really.
Made him feel like he was invisible.
You can see from some of the quotes
that we have here on the screen.
It's easy to realize how different
segments are getting left out of
literature or have been in the past.
And why it's so important for
us to fix that in the future.
Who? The fire rate per dose Lance.
So one of our authors.
Graceland talks about in her webcast how
books are both a mirror and a window.
Growing up, she didn't see herself
and a lot of the titles that she
would read so when she decided to
become an author and illustrator.
That's what she wrote about,
she initially wrote about what she saw.
And she realized using missing
out on a big portion of herself.
Show me charge box or a mirror for
her being able to identify with who
she was her culture her personality.
I really expanded went how she
was able to grow as a writer.
So books can be both a mirror in a window.
It's important for me to see myself.
But in populations where maybe there
isn't a lot of diversity in you're
putting your student population.
It's still important for
them to see a window.
And to be exposed to.
People and cultures and other
things that are different from them.
So let me ask you a question.
Could you imagine a world without
where the wild things are?
Well, that book was never written,
Maury Sendak decided.
Hey, I'm just I'm going to give it up.
So Marie's. Walter Dean Myers.
They all talked about how
they almost gave up writing.
Because I didn't see themselves
in the passion went away.
Think about just for a moment?
How many young children gave up that
passion for one reason or another.
Because I didn't see themselves in books.
They weren't represented Papa
properly and books and just said.
Hey, you know.
This is not something I want to pursue.
How much great literature
have we lost as a result?
So what you do and how you develop your
collections really makes a difference.
I know that you're fighting that fight
everyday and it absolutely matters,
making a little money sent back out
there writing books in. Absolutely.
For those that don't know more recent
decades of the LGBTQ community so.
So let's talk about just for a moment what,
if you are represented.
What if you do see yourself in
literature but once you see is
maybe a dehumanized stereotype?
Or you're always the villain.
Or perhaps what you serve as if to
inspire the real hero in the book.
Or in some way, shape or form,
your character is always impressed.
There's so many stereotypes and you can see
from this deep in these depictions here.
They've been able to break that and
show how everyone can be a part
of the adventure can be the hero.
Just being part of literature in general,
not playing a specific role.
Really help spread the representation
and increase the diversity in literature
to kind of like what you mean is.
Are all of my Asian characters
smart in science? Exactly exactly.
That might not be the best representation
one trip fall to be aware of is
an archetype in a stereo type are
2 completely separate things.
Reflected on this slide is a stereotype
archetypes, further literature.
Stereo type student.
So, in her talk. We have Debbie Reese.
And I encourage you to check out this.
This speech, she gave really just
by trying to protect her daughter.
And bring things and bring more things to
light about the Native American community.
She was able to help increase the awareness
about what was going on in literature
when it regards to that community.
So for example.
Growing up when it was story time in school,
it was normal to grab a carpet square.
And we would go over and it was
said to sit Indian style over here,
so we can have story time.
And I didn't think anything of it.
But how is that affecting the
different students that were in
school I was just something that was
just part of our regular school day.
So being aware of that and increasing
awareness really makes a difference.
The experiences that your children have
you know what?
It's interesting you say that because today?
I actually heard an adult say that.
So if you if you take into your
behaviors into story time of what
you say instead of saying said.
Indian style how 'bout we sit
crisscross applesauce or cross legged.
Regarding First Nations I read an article
this morning from USA TODAY that.
87% of curriculum do not mention First
Nations after 1990 or 19 thirty 1900.
But yet 90% of school districts and
states are looking to increase.
Their exposure of 1st nations
in their curriculum.
That is definitely going
to be a growing area,
you're going to want to
watch for diverse books.
So when we say diverse.
You know, we've got through we've
got me and we have certain labels
right so in the morning I got my.
Caucasian liberal gay
self that I workout with.
But diversity is a whole bunch of other
things, it's differently abled it's.
Different body types,
it's even going to college or trade school.
It's neurotypical versus Temple
Garden Grand and it's an immigrant.
Versus a citizen So what one thing
that we want to do is we want to
make sure your broadening your
definition of what diverse is.
A lot of people fall into the make
sure you have diverse race books
and make sure you have diverse.
LGBTQ books it's so much more than that.
Invisibility activist Emily Landau.
Talk about how when she would
read books and actually became
kind of a it was just it was a
painful experience from her.
She would see characters that were
differently, abled and they might give
the hero the direction which way to go.
But they never saw themselves,
she never saw herself as someone
who could be in that role.
So they were kind of a
side character at best.
Found this one today,
I'm so excited about this one.
This is called? Show me a sign by an.
Well, that and this will be
in our collection coming up.
Not only is the character death.
First Nation,
the author is a deaf librarian,
and I can't be more excited to read this.
How authentic could that be?
Should we get examples all the
time we hear testimonies about
how different books inside of
schools are in their schools?
Get some really turning the kids off.
So for example, for the African
American community growing up,
I could always find a book about slavery.
And I believe that it's important
to realize what your past was.
In order to properly move
forward in your future.
But those were those were
the main books, I saw.
I didn't really see a lot of times
when the black character was the hero.
But they weren't impressed.
And you can see from the screen.
There's so many of these books
are about little slave girls.
I don't want to read about slavery.
So while expanding the collection
is great in it's going to get
more reading from your students.
It is so paramount.
To making sure they have a
great experience of the globe.
And this is. A Junior Library Guild.
We have the great opportunity to have
sister companies of School Library
Journal Library Journal and the hornbook.
So many of these places.
They're doing the reviews review
more than 4000 management per year,
but we're looking for the
best of the best books.
Includes diverse books books
from all across the spectrum.
You can see on your screen here.
You might see. We need diverse books.
This is one of my favourites
to follow on Instagram.
If you're not following them.
Also, ASL which I'm sure many
of you are a part of.
They have a new guide a new
workbook to help you introduce
diversity in your communities.
They encourage you to check it out.
So how do you know if your collections
diverse it's kind of subjective but at
the same time here's some statistics
some hard statistics from the?
Publishing industry.
In 2018, the Cooperative Center for
children's books did an analysis
of the books published in 2018.
And you can see the predominant wear white
Caucasian characters followed by 27% animals.
Then we go into.
African Americans Asians
Latins and 1st nations,
so on the left side of the screen.
If you Add all of those up.
You're only about to the 27% of the animals
so there are more animal characters
represented than people of color.
So that's a hard statistic and you
have to work really, really hard.
In your collection development to
overcome the natural bias of the
publishing industry and of Dewey.
So. There's a natural
sentiment to have missed alja.
I know growing up some of my favorite
series is actually the boxcar children.
And I my mother actually
required as summer homework.
When I wasn't in school that
I would read Tom Sawyer.
That would read Huckleberry Finn and get
some of these classics under my belt.
But I think about what I would do with
my nieces and my nephews or my children.
Nowadays, if that were the same case.
Well, I give them those books
would I encourage them to read
those books and Angela.
How do you look at the classics?
When you're when you're talking about.
That's
a real concern for many librarians both in
schools and public libraries because if it's.
In the curriculum it's in your library right.
So how are you going to deal with that
there is a resource in our resources
that talks specifically about?
When you have a classic that may not.
Show people in a favorable light anymore.
You balance, it with the other side
of the sandwich, which is the.
Now historical context.
So yes, this book may have outdated
views outdated language balance,
it with historical context.
Another resource talks about with
the very little's you want to avoid.
Classic books that have stereotypes
because they're so impressionable
the younger they are.
And they absorb that material so much
more and they don't have the ability
to talk about the historical context.
So obviously if it's in your current feeling.
You gotta deal with it,
but there's some resources in our
resources that can help you with that.
So let's talk about the editorial
team for just a moment.
How do we select diverse books?
How do we look for this our team as you can
see on the screen are made up of people.
And you actually get a little
look into the secret sauce.
Passion knowledge training lived
experiences willingness to learn.
And research.
All of these things go into how we
put our book collections together,
how we develop our categories.
So each one of these titles
get separated in the genre.
Whether that it might be
graphic novels or biographies.
Humor elementary all of these
categories work together to make up
the collections that are our members
are purchasing from us all the time.
And having that wide range of experiences.
Is what adds to Junior
Library Guild's greatness?
That's what also gives us a 95%
success rate in Star reviews.
Favorable reviews and awards.
I heard we did really well on
the war in the war. Although
Walter in the walls world, Walter Dean Yes,
so today in that you might have seen that.
Six of the awards. All six of the
awards were announced today and all 6.
For Junior Library Guild titles,
so just a little bit of a tip of the hat,
but right along with that.
How does that play in?
Because of our unique relationships.
We actually get to review the books in their
manuscript phase so before they're published.
And we get to provide feedback in many
examples is this what the author was
trying to convey in their work is it?
What the publisher.
Wants to represent when their
readers are picking it up.
As you can see on the screen because of
our feedback that publisher in that book
was actually able to make some changes.
I made a difference before it came out wait
you mean one of our editors sent
feedback back to the publisher and they?
They agreed with us and made a change.
That's right how great is that.
So our categories are builds that
we have diversity into every every
collection so rather than focusing
on I'm going to buy one collection.
It's going to give me.
All of the diverse books.
The first slice the Junior Library
Guild always does is quality,
so number one doesn't look
past the quality test.
The best of the best out of those,
4000 manuscripts that we read.
Then is it engaging in diverse.
So we have diverse runs all
the way from the Littles.
I'm through our high School Raiders.
And if you didn't know this
already you can search on our
website by for example, LGBTQ.
But it will show you the books that
that exists in all of our categories,
letting you know just how well
rounded are collections are.
That's a good point drew we don't have
any LGBTQ category because we feel that
diversity belongs in all of our categories.
So multicultural categories.
A great way to introduce maybe
it seems reluctant readers.
Those who don't see themselves,
but it's something that
you're currently looking for.
So much you really want to hone in on.
I encourage you to check out
these different categories.
And just keep in mind.
You're going to get the resources
in a recap with all of this show.
As you frantically trying to write
down all of these titles don't
worry you'll get to see it again.
So again is Angela was talking about
diversity and each one of our categories,
even down to hell zombies don't eat veggies?
Cancel.
So to help highlight some
of these categories.
You've probably seen it if you've
gotten our marketing emails this month.
Using the promotion that we have going
on with these categories, as well.
This is really highlighting aren't
rich and enlightened categories.
And in such a crucial time with
everything that's going on.
It's it's really nice that you can have a
place where you can go click on a link.
You can see the titles you can see
the sensitive areas for members
and how appropriate they are,
and make sure you're making the
right selections for your school.
Is having easy going to to get the job done?
You know one of my favorite character
categories is on this slide,
so character building element.
This is a good one this is a good one.
I like this so the word of
the year and you probably I'm
sure you've seen this by now.
They. We see look up for the
word they increased 313% in
2019 over the previous year.
So I say to you.
That means that things are changing
so having more you can see general
neutral in singular pronouns.
We are becoming more progressive
we're understanding how
people want to be referred to.
What what their life means to them
but we're making that more of an
impetus when we get things done?
So proximately 4.3 of the United States
adults identify as LGBTQ what that means
is that there's 10.7 million. Adults.
2 million between two million and 3.7
million children under the age of 18,
having LGBTQ Parent.
Now, when you look at the United
States has 40,000,000 people in it,
those numbers might seem small.
By percentage but when you look at
the actual number of individuals.
You may be in a very homogeneous area that
there is a kid somewhere in your school.
Or your library. That. Once did,
they see themselves or see their family.
Represented.
So that's just a statistic to
show that it's definitely while
the percentages are small,
the impact is really big.
And with these stories with these titles,
it's more about just a coming out story
right. I want to see it story
about regular stuff is actually
exactly so the literature across the board.
Some of our staff favorites so we
put up here. You should take a look.
You see blood sport will
see love like a love story.
The Stars in the blackness between them.
There's so many topics in so many
areas of literature that they hit upon.
It's great to have a well
rounded collection. One
thing I really appreciate about our
selections are that the character.
Maybe LGBTQ, but that's not
necessarily what the book is about.
Like you want to read something other
than just a black character doing stuff.
You want to regular person
right that's right.
I want a regular person to do
some of our staff favourites here
for our middle school category.
Let me take a look at that.
And remember, you'll get all
these in the in the resources you
don't have to write it all down.
And some of the staff
favourites for elementary
and remember studies have
shown that the little alert.
They are the more impressionable they are.
And they absorb all of that information
so the books that you're reading and
story time are exceptionally important.
Also, you don't need to do a special splashy.
Display just when you're doing your normal
everyday displays add in some diverse books.
The more that they see. Themselves.
The more your readers are
going to get excited anymore,
your books are going to move.
And once the elementary it's You'll find
that many of these titles are more round.
A message rather than a story.
Play Angel talked about one of her favorite
categories that character building.
Yes, a lot of them the messages kindness.
The message is treating everyone equally.
The message is being a good human
so as a lot of characters that
will get from the status as well.
In those different.
Attributes I want to see in
all of our students.
So expanding a little bit
and these are just some of
the ones crossing over into
our global citizenship.
Being globally aware what's
going on in the world?
What about different cultures?
What about different people
that I'm seeing? How is it?
How is it more of a window
into other cultures?
I'm reading my storage?
I mean people don't live in America.
Really?
And one that stood out to Maine
was the moose the moose of a wiki.
And this is just follows a Hunter and
his relationship with an older moves
actually and how they become friends.
How the changing world
illustrates their changing lives?
So it's more than just a story
about someone from another culture
from another country it applies to
how changes that go on with us.
And how we adapt to them.
It really makes a difference in our
friendships or relationships and how
we go about. Each and every day.
Well, this one was your favorite
one of your favorite books
and a lot of civilized, it still is actually.
So the band Book Club so let
me just and you can see from
the screen could you imagine?
Could you imagine that because
of what you wanted to read?
You can be arrested.
You could be beaten.
You can be tortured you could
be thrown in prison.
That's what the band Book Club follows.
A group that sticks together
shares hides has titles that they
share amongst each other to make
sure they can continue to grow.
And have that knowledge that
there there really cut off
from that is illegal to do.
This was a true book true stone.
The one trend that we've been
noticing lately is an influx of
books about Persian culture.
These are just some other titles that
have come out. In our selections.
The Yasmine books if you're in an
elementary school and you don't know
about the Yasmine books, they are awesome.
She is a powerful cute little girl
who just happens to be perfect.
And that one proud about the 1st
to job wearing an Olympic.
Medalist is phenomenal too.
Just some more titles to.
Help your collection.
Oh, this one's funny the strangers.
Assume my girlfriend is my
nerves that one is a great read
so if you haven't got a chance
to check out schamberg all.
I highly suggest that you do so.
On that page and you'll see changes.
Some of the younger titles
that he's made as well.
Not so different we just highlighting
how everyone is the same.
Everyone can get along everyone
is a part of the same team.
So having books like that entitles
and showing different types of
characters showing different types
of people again just contribute to
your overall library collection.
So here we have some books that add
in those other diverse categories.
You know, we got some about Temple Grandin.
You know, no non neurotypical.
It's hard for me to say roll with it.
Unsinkable by Jessica Long. So
just some of our favorite books that
might have to do with the character
was sum sum total disability.
Or just being differently abled.
Here are tons and tons of.
Knew books to that show people of color,
so African American stories
that aren't about slavery
in just about day-to-day life.
You see potatoes, you see you
see retail you see adventure,
UC survival you see mystery across the board.
So really expanding about what you
can show on the African American
community and other people of color.
The one hot comb the graphic novel on
the bottom shelf is really it's really
good ad for high school libraries.
Eastern voices and perspectives
earlier there was a quote about how.
A child mentioned to the librarian
that not everybody Asian is Chinese
so these are different perspectives,
Taiwanese there's.
Um Japanese there's Korean all kinds
of all kinds of different Asian.
Eastern influences and perspectives.
Latina and Latino books,
we've seen us insurgents into as well.
Here's some titles from our categories.
The Poppy has a motorcycle isn't great.
That's a great one that's a great.
One of my parents.
Some of our staff favourites from American
Indian in First Nations so again.
You'll see titles, you'll see types
of books from all across the spectrum
from graphic novels to biographies too.
Humor to adventure mystery adventure
all of these just celebrating the
representation matters in providing
stories in a mirror to our students.
In our editors select books that are
authentic voices so these are voices that.
Are going to be authentic and not
not falling back to that stereotype?
We saw in the slide?
So really just like you were readers
are editorial staff and readers.
So we're concerned with what's
going into our library.
Yes, there's diverse books.
There are so many more diverse
books being written all the time.
How can you make sure how do you know?
That what you're getting is quality.
So we endeavors you as you know this by
now to provide engaging content as well,
something that your students are
gonna want to pick up and read.
Rather, it's because they recognize
and identify with the character
that's on the cover of the book.
Thanks again to read that book and find
something that they can connect with.
All of these pieces whether it's
the award winning titles that we
provide whether it's the Newberry
whether it's the Caldecott,
the Caretta Scott King.
All of these titles and the
accolades that we received has to
do with how engaging our books are.
So it's more than just a diverse book.
It's a book that can be read by anyone.
And it's something that wins awards you
know is going to resonate with your readers.
That world when I can't wait to read either.
Teen girls will love that one.
So this really just illustrates
how important and what the process
is for Junior Library Guild,
how we select our titles.
And what that means so many of
you remembers already so you know
that Mercy Suarez for example,
we had that title back.
In April 2018 and that's when we
selected it and we had it as part
of our releases for our librarians.
Back in November.
Then you see in January 2019 and went
on to win the Top award in the industry,
the Newbery Medal Award.
So what we do,
and how we put our titles together?
How important it is to not
just select diverse books.
But look for the most quality
books available.
Really makes a difference in your collection.
So this is one of my favorite quotes.
So you can see my Angelou said.
Do the best you can.
Until you know better.
Then when you know better. Do better.
So you're probably feeling a
little overwhelmed on How do I?
How do I get all of these diverse
books into my collection?
Well, just start small start with
one area start with a subject.
You want to add in a few
titles with and remember.
It's more to about how you act
in the library what you say.
In story time are you using an
authentic voice or are you using
a stereotypical voice that might
be something if you're brave.
Have a trusted colleague.
Video tape even watch your
story time and see how you do,
do those voices just start
small added in your dear.
Display one or 2 books at a time.
And you'll be amazed to see
how your collection will grow.
So each and everyone of you everyday.
Every day whether you're
checking your bias at the door.
When you come into the library whether
it's the reviews that you're reading.
How do you put all of this together?
How you make your collect collections more
and more diverse and I know that's Why?
You're on this web cast because you want to.
You gotta know it makes a difference.
I know you don't hear it every day.
You don't hear it all the time,
many times you probably don't get
any appreciation for it at all.
But understand that student to that
one individual that seized that sees
themselves in that book it means the world.
So thank you for what you do with that.
So we are open if you want it.
If you want to communicate with
us were absolutely open to that.
You've got our contact information
here shoot us an email if you haven't.
Other questions that you don't.
Into today you got her email information
and we're happy to answer any
questions that we don't get to today.
My son and thank you.
Angela Andrew just so you
guys know who are viewing.
This we do have some promotions in the
Resource List Be sure to check those out.
Um if you'd like $100 in free books.
For every new subscription category
in the enriching enlightenment,
they were talking about.
We had that can click that link.
There's also a link for $9 like books
that were mentioned in the webcast.
And there is also a giveaway to
enter to win a couple of different
we have signed diverse books that
were also mentioned in the podcast.
So to make sure you fill out that
if you're interested in that.
Um we're gonna go over to the Q&A.
So uhm. Drew and Angela go ahead and.
Thank you.
Alright so one of the first ones that
we shall it would kind of want to tackle
is how do you deal with classics?
That may be now be considered insensitive.
So the first thing you're going to want
to do is you're going to want to rely
on your collection development policy.
So if your school or library doesn't
have a collection development policy
that's my biggest advice is to get that.
First of all squared away that's going
to tell you we've got these books.
They're in the curriculum.
Here's how we're going to deal with it.
What to do if there's a challenge I
would highly suggest that before you
go purchasing books that may or may
not raise an eyebrow that you go.
Collection development policy
with your leadership.
And go through the policy of.
If someone might object what
are you going to do about it?
That's definitely the first thing the
second thing is in the resources there
is an article that I linked to that
speaks directly to several titles.
Take a look through that it
will give you some suggestions.
You want to always go to your leadership if
you are the leadership and you need advice.
Your district librarian or even
another district or even your state,
Library of your Public Library.
It's a great place to go.
For example, collection development
policies examples on what to do, if one
of your diverse pokes gets a challenge.
Those kinds of things.
Yeah, alright so 2nd question was
how to connect with students who
don't have diverse backgrounds.
And that goes back to more of your actions.
And your visibility so I mentioned
the inherent bias in Dewey.
So you're going to want to try
to overcome that natural bias.
In the publishing industry,
an in Dewey and one thing you can do is
simply just display more diverse books.
You don't have to make a big deal out of it,
you don't have to have a red neon sign.
Just when you're doing your displays
when you're doing your story
times think am I be a box of kranz
or am I the 64 bucks a crate.
You want to go more towards
the 64 box of Kranz.
More exposure.
Equals more absorption an more
representation.
You don't have to shout it from the
mountaintops.
Right and another question is How do
I divert introduce diverse titles to
my community when some members made?
Object meeting contact to the content.
Again, this is this is a tricky one and
it completely depends on your audience.
Number One. Go back to not
converge in development policy.
Uhm I would hesitate to go buying a ton
of books in an area that might raise
an eyebrow without having reviewed.
But when you go through your
policy follow your policy.
If your policy requires.
You know three starred reviews will our
books have those 95% of our books go on
to win awards had to have started reviews.
So the any the very first step.
You ever want to take is take a step back
first do I have my framework in mind.
Do I have my collection development
policy in mind,
and do I have my procedure on well?
What happens.
And who makes decisions if I do
get a challenge.
Thank you so much. Well
let's take a look at another.
Thousands I've heard discussions about
using animal characters instead of humans.
Is this an issue and if so why?
So there's kind of a fine line on it.
Uhm animal stories are great
animal stories are cute.
But if you're comparing a person who
is diverse to an animal you really
dehumanizing that that person that group.
That population in that is not at all.
What we want to do have a balance of books
that have animal characters that's great.
But also train balance,
it with realistic characters,
so one of the books we had.
Couple spans ago,
I had a colleague here who is
a person of color read it.
And she caught something that
I didn't catch which was.
All of the people in the color in the
book where the same color of Brown.
And it was like the artist had picked.
One color for Caucasian and one color
for people of color and that's not
exactly a very good representative book.
Our conclusion people aren't as pale as me.
You know, we are so much darker than others.
So it's just one of those things
to be careful.
That.
Are all of the books that you're
reading and story time?
Have animals that show other people.
That's not that's not the entire message.
You want to be sending to your kids.
Check in Anybody else got any questions.
Really good feedback really
good questions on here? Yeah.
We're happy to answer any questions
that come in later after this.
Um we're happy to talk to you
more about books and one one
book I did want to bring up.
Is this one comes from a little so we can
see if we get the cover that's OK cool?
Alright so this is.
Lizzie demands a seat so I'm sure
everybody has books in your library
about Rosa Parks right well.
The civil rights movement
didn't start in the 1960s.
It started in the 1800s,
with this person.
He's one of the ones so this
is about Elizabeth Jennings
fights for streetcar rights.
So there is a video that
talks about the one story.
You want to be careful
that you not having one.
Book on a subject so say.
Civil rights.
Yes, you have a book on Rosa Parks
great did you have other books?
Do you have books that talk
about civil rights?
Across the years.
So be careful of falling into
the trap of I have one book.
Therefore, I'm good now.
Sometimes it's hard to
find books on subjects.
That's definitely admitted but you just
want to make sure in your mind picture am I.
The A box of crayons or am I.
The 64 Bucks,
a cramps were going to strive
for that 64 box of Kranz.
Maybe we want to buy a box of 64
grandson sitting on your desk.
Nobody will know what it
means except for you.
But it'll be a nice visual
reminder for you.
And really especially for those attending
today lean on the resource list.
Take a look at the resources we provided.
There's a multitude of ways that you can
help find those titles and just to make
your library collection more diverse.
That's what I really like
about those those topic.
Alerts that we have so if you're looking
to add books on a specific subject.
Take a look at our categories you can find
more books based on those categories.
Another question here?
What are some ways that we
can determine the diversity
of our collection OK that's a good one too?
Um. A lot of it actually goes back
to the age of your collection. So.
You want to carefully pick your read aloud.
But also we want to make sure that.
Are my books are my fiction books?
You know average age 1980
that's probably not.
Going to have some diverse characters in it,
it's really hard admittedly to get an
objective way to measure your collection.
One suggestion I have is.
Send your kids on a scavenger
hunt ask your kids.
Do you see yourself in this
collection you know what?
Would you like to see more
of and see what they say?
You can get some wild and crazy.
I want to see space aliens from Mars,
but you know that'll be fun.
Why I think asking your kids is
the number one way of course you
have final say of course you have
the collection development policy,
but Sample your kids pull your
kids are you seeing yourself.
Another
question here. Besides simply
carefully picking you read alouds.
Do you have any tips or advice for
getting kids truly excited about
diverse books in characters? Yes,
so this is not a one and done.
This is I put my SPF on every day so.
You can do a big display
for February black history.
What are you going to the other 9
months of the year 12 months here?
You need to sprinkle it in all the time.
What I do is as soon as the new
books come in I'm looking through
my thinking OK I can do this,
I can do an activity with this.
I want this teacher to see this book.
One way is if you can if you're in
a school environment where you can
work cooperatively with teachers.
Talk to the art teacher about aren't
elementary category and there's
tons of great books out there on.
Artist. In diverse ways.
Other things you can do is do more
of the read aloud's with them.
Be careful on how you use your voice
is in those kinds of things too.
Dubuque sampling or book snacks,
Witcher book talks.
Basically um other things,
too, is you could do the rap.
The book in the Brown paper bag
and do the mystery book check out.
And. Have them have them pick a
book on mystery book and it's all
in something here at diverse books.
That way you're having a display.
But it's not like here are the diverse books.
It's your incorporating it in
your collection. It was this one.
Right right
down here is there a way to search
JLG for specific ethnic group.
For instance, I'm aligning my
collection to represent my students.
With 12% Hispanic students
enrolled at my school.
My collection only has 1% Hispanic titles.
I'd like to find more who spending
titles with Hispanic characters, etc.
If I can search just for Hispanic tags.
And make my search is much more
effective than do this jail G.
If not is this feature that soon
might that might be available soon.
I believe we do have the ability
to search by subject on our site,
we can also search by keyword.
Um if you have.
Large Hispanic population to one thing to
think about our our bilingual categories.
If you have people who are.
English language learners.
Even for them to take home
and read with their families.
What a better way to increase your
book checkout is Hey take this home
and read it with your parents?
You know help them it'll help you
so that's definitely one thing I
would suggest we got primary Spanish.
Image Elementary in Spanish middle.
Another came in here.
So I live in a rural Wyoming.
And often frustrates me at all the books
with people of color are set in the city.
It seems to me that that makes our little
black kids feel like they don't belong.
And and what are your thoughts?
You know that's a really good
question and that is uhm.
That is a problem that
definitely is a problem.
I don't know if you're aware
that Jason Reynolds was just.
Appointed the Administer for
young people's literature from
the National Library of Congress.
My brief Congress and his goals
specifically was he writes books
for urban black heads and he said.
I need to go.
To Iowa and I need to go to Wyoming
and I need to go to the suburbs
and I need to talk to those kids.
Because I'm completely missing out on that.
So. I think it's a movement.
I think what you can do is.
Obviously, our books.
We look for that, too.
I would start running to publishers.
I would start writing the publishers and
authors and do it as a class project maybe?
You know get your kids
involved and say pick out.
Um pick out Angie Thomas is publisher,
I can't think of it right now.
And your class project write
some letters and say, Hey,
we're looking for some.
The authors were looking for
some characters set you know,
I grew up in western central Illinois.
Believe me.
We need we need to talk to others.
And publishers.
Those are some really,
really good questions really,
really good questions that is an
important topic, too because that
goes back to window or mirror books.
Mirror book I see myself in it window book.
I see others, but you're right if if.
All goes back to what you were saying,
all of the books about people of color
are slavery or said in urban areas.
We're not really doing a service so we
gotta get on the authors in the publishers.
Yet. All right.
Do you know of any book suggestion that
provides the black female experience?
During the women's right to vote movement.
You know what that is a
wonderful question an I was.
Gonna talk to our marketing Department
about a possible one for February,
based on women's right
to vote women's voices.
That is a really, really good one.
I will I will do some research and we'll see.
We'll see what we can come up with that one.
We need to get the name and
email address for that person,
so I can work on that one absolutely.
That's not an easy one that's
that's not an easy one.
So you won't hear from a new librarian.
When other librarians weed out
books that picture stereotypes
or extremely outdated harmful or
problematic in some way or another.
Do these titles go into the trash.
What can you do or do we do with these books?
OK, I'm a librarian. I love books.
There's a constant battle in
my house about how many books.
There are between me and my spouse.
But there are certain books that are
doing a disservice in need to be pumped.
So if a book. Still, mentions USSR,
obviously you would bulb it same thing.
You know that goes back to your
collection development policy,
too because people get weird about
reading books that are paid for with
taxpayer money so make sure you're
doing things in the right way.
But. It's kind of like a recalled
product for kids.
You're not going to donate it to
someone knowing that that crib.
Is a safety issue?
It's the same thing in my opinion
with the books?
If it's harmful it's harmful it needs to go.
Turn it into crafts give it to your
art teacher and say do something
with this MacBook craps out of it.
You know there are ways to do it where
you're not sticking a ton of books in
the dumpster for someone to get upset about.
Um.
Be creative with that can you can
you turn it into an art project?
Can you turn it into?
Um.
The social studies lesson with
your social studies teacher.
Field that helps that's a really,
really good question.
Not some smart listeners today.
Give it a couple more minutes.
So when you were a child would
you have liked to see more people?
He grew up in the suburbs of city
eating grass is it wasn't a big city.
All right.
Oh. So, just a related comment.
My MLIS advisor recommends
possibly keeping a small shelf
of those we did examples to show
kids and staff why things change.
Oh, that is a really good point and I
know also to there's a fear of in fact,
we don't my books. My principle is going to.
You know my principles and walking and say
why are you getting rid of books so I keep
books on my shelf to make sure it looks full?
Actually, if you need out those books. Um.
Number one they can find the good walks.
The books that are more representative,
but that is actually a really
good idea to keep a shelf.
Talk to your history teachers talk
to your social studies teachers,
maybe do an ethics debate.
You know have your high school
classes read something that.
You know, obviously is very dated and do.
And they gotta be you know
turn it into a lesson.
You can also call it the
historical archive if you.
Want to actually turn it into a
collection where they can check it out.
Thank you for sharing that that's
a great that's great. Great idea.
Anybody else have any good
ideas on those hard questions.
Well, if not I got one
more I'd like to share.
This book is phenomenal it's
called the proudest blue. And this.
You know the whole job is a very public
symbol and this book is it's focused
on why a little girl wears her job.
But the story is so neatly done and
the illustrations are in so beautiful,
but this one could be done.
It could be in a curriculum
lesson or it could be.
You just pick out all the blue books
and you stick 'em on the shelf and say,
I'm going to pull.
Books with blue covers you've
always got those papers that say.
Well, it was a green book and it was a
middle grade fiction do a blue display
and hold out this one this one is.
Highly highly recommended.
Alright well, I think well.
That'll rap us up. Thank you so
much for the questions again.
If you have any others.
Feel free to reach out to us and
definitely an expert here in Angela
just let the ideas
as well, it's ideas.
Thank you so much for attending
the web web cast today and again.
Thank you for what you're doing too.
To just progress in expand
diversity in literature.
I remember you don't have
to go from zero to 100.
Small steps everyday remember the parable
of the grain of rice if you do something.
Small, every day at the end of the year,
you'll be amazed at what you've done.
For diversity in your collection so
thanks for listening thanks everyone.