As an educator, I passionately believe that all children deserve an equitable education. In fact, I believe that diversity enhances the learning environment for all involved, both students and educators. I believe that librarians can play a vital role in this, from fostering a safe space where racial, cultural, and gender differences are respected, to introducing and emphasizing literature that highlights and portrays underrepresented groups.

 

As a library media center specialist, providing diversity in literature is crucial for a number of reasons. All children deserve to see themselves in books. Having representation of all students cultivates a sense of belonging. Books are not only mirrors to see themselves in, they are also  windows for children to understand others. Diversity in books teaches people about others and helps widen their worldview. In turn, this helps foster compassion, understanding, and meaningful change.

 

The library media specialist has a responsibility to provide high quality diverse books in the library. I believe strongly in the #ownvoices movement as a way to do this. #ownvoices refers to books written about a marginalized group by a member of that group. It includes all forms of diversity, from racial to disablity to sexual orientation. An example of an #ownvoices author would be Jerry Craft, the author of New Kid, or No Kimchi For Me by Aram Kim. There are several reasons I believe so strongly in #ownvoices. First, it allows for marginalized groups to be represented in children’s literature. It also helps people from marginalized groups tell their stories. The #ownvoices movement also helps children expand their viewpoints and cultivate compassion for those who are not like them. Less than 60% of librarians are familiar with the #ownvoices movement, and school librarians make up only a small portion of that. I believe it is a vital responsibility of the library media specialist to not only provide a wide range of diverse books, but also to do so mindfully, making sure the authors are authentic storytellers and providing representation accurately. A quote I like regarding this is “diversity matters, but authenticity and accuracy matters even more.” (SLJ)

 

One of the roles of a library media specialist is exposing all students to a wide range of literature that represents all learners. A simple way to accomplish this is through read alouds. The LMCS has an opportunity to share high quality, diverse books with students, and have meaningful conversations to foster a community of understanding. Another way to expose all learners to diverse books is to include students in the process. By creating a “Recommendation Board,” students can post books they’ve read and loved and want others to read. Other ways include author highlights, book of the month, or book talks.