If you are looking for new titles to add your school or library, begin with awards lists. Book trailers and videos of author interviews are also effective in generating buzz about books. I also include diverse titles in summer reading lists and recommended book lists.Īnother way I generate excitement with our students is to booktalk new titles and include diverse titles in our March Madness book competition. I do this by prominently displaying books by diverse authors. In addition to purchasing diverse books for the library, I try make sure the books are checked out and read by my students. Some of the most popular books in my middle school library right now describe immigrant experiences, examine issues of race and identity, depict transgender characters, and highlight issues of poverty and food insecurity. In addition to purchasing books featuring multicultural characters and settings, our classrooms and libraries should include books about socio-economic struggles, LGBTQ issues, and characters with disabilities and mental health issues. It is important to include books about history in our collections however, we need to make sure we are purchasing books from a variety of genres covering myriad issues and events - not just slavery or the Civil Rights Movement. The books in the library expose readers to other points of view, perspectives, and issues they may not have faced. Students in my school have access to books that feature characters from different cultures, races, and experiences.
Ensuring Library Books Reflect the WorldĪs a school librarian in a predominantly white school district, I strive to make the library collection reflect the world outside of our small, suburban community. In addition to acting as mirrors, books can also serve as windows that give readers a glimpse into the lives and experiences of others.Įducators have the critical task of making sure our students have access to books in our classrooms and libraries that serve as both windows and mirrors. When books don’t serve as mirrors to children, Bishop says, “They learn a powerful lesson about how they are devalued in society.” Bishop makes the point that it’s crucial for children from marginalized groups to view themselves in the books they read. Bishop coined the phrase “Windows, Mirrors and Sliding Glass Doors” to explain how children see themselves in books and how they can also learn about the lives of others through literature.ĭr. Rudine Sims Bishop published an essay about the importance of providing young readers with diverse books that reflect the “multicultural nature of the world” in which we live.
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