We Need Diverse Books: Resources

Diversity metrics and critiques:

• We Need Diverse Books
• Cooperative Children's Book Center
• The 2014 Women of Color VIDA Count
  • Roxane Gay, "Where Things Stand"
• Are all Lists Created Equal? Diversity in Award-Winning and Bestselling Young Adult Fiction
• The Importance of Diversity in Library Programs and Material Collections for Children (from the Association of Library Services for Children)
• Diversity Baseline Survey project from Lee & Low

Book blogs focused on diversity

• Diversity in YA
• All Our Worlds: Diverse Fantastic Fiction

Browse this list of diversity book awards for children and young adults, compiled by Michigan State University Libraries.

Our Reference Collection contains several guides to multicultural children's literature. Reference books are found on the main floor, Beck Hall side.

These articles and posts explore the broader issues of diversity within authorship and publishing.

• Writers Unboxed has a craft series on diversity for writers.
• Publisher's Weekly Publishing Industry Salary Survey 2015 - the majority of publishing professionals is white
• Equity in Publishing: What Should Editors Be Doing? 
• I Gave a Speech about Race to the Publishing Industry and No One Heard Me
• Black Characters are Still Revolutionary’: Writers Talk about the Complexity of Race
• How Do We Stop UK Publishing From Being So Posh and White?
• Where are the Brown People?’ Authors Slam Lack of Diversity in UK Publishing

The We Need Diverse Books campaign believes that all children need to see themselves and their experiences reflected in the pages of books. Statistics compiled annually by the Cooperative Children's Book Center reveal that the representation of diversity within children's publishing is, frankly, dismal.

Walter Dean Myers' influential column for the New York Times in 2014 outlines the core issues at stake: "Books transmit values. They explore our common humanity. What is the message when some children are not represented in those books?"  

The We Need Diverse Books Campaign brings together authors, editors, publishers and readers of children's literature in order to raise awareness of the issues and provide resources, community and support for making the world of children's books better represent the rich diversity in today's world.

Photo credit: Steven L. Shepard

This is a VERY small sample of the diverse young adult books in our library. While there isn't a sure-fire way of searching the catalog to find books that exhibit diversity, you can always head to the new Young Adult section in the library and browse our shelves. The Young Adult collection is located next to the Children's collection on the bottom floor, south end (Olin side).

Here are just a few books for younger readers (and young at heart readers) that celebrate and explore diversity. Find them - and more - in the Children's Collection (bottom floor, south side, look for the bright blue banner).

The Folke Bernadotte Memorial Library dedicates aquisition funds to develop a diverse collection. We define diversity broadly and try to reflect as many diverse experiences and voices in our collection as possible. The diversity display is a permanent display found in the Gustavus Library Associates Reading Room (main floor). New materials cycle through regularly, so stop by often to browse what's new. Feel free to borrow books from the display.