Inclusivity and Diversity in the School Library: What is an Inclusive Library?

November 24-30, 2016 is National Book Week. This year's theme is Today's Readers: Inclusivity and Diversity. If anything, the theme prompts us to look at our library services and programs as culturally tolerant, embracing the uniqueness individuals and accepting the differences of peoples who go to the library, and making sure that the library is a "safe place" for everyone. And at the heart of it all is the librarian who is competent enough to plan, implement and deliver programs of inclusivity and diversity.

I am wrapping my head around it because, to me at least, it appears more than looking at the library's collection. Although, by building up a collection that is diverse and represents people of color, indigenous groups, the marginalized, political refugees and the LGBT community, then it is a start to begin thinking of programs and services for them.

Here are two blog posts from the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) on what an Inclusive Library is, its qualities and the competencies that librarians must possess to run such programs and services.

#act4teens: The Inclusive Library: More Than A Diverse Collection Part 1

#act4teens: The Inclusive Library: More Than A Diverse Collection Part 2

You may wish to head on to the YALSA website for more resources and news. They spear head the Teen Read Week and Teen Tech Week celebrations.