Representation and Diversity in Libraries

Photo by cottonbro studio

We know representation and diversity is important. When we read, we always want to relate to what we're reading. Even when we read fantasy or science fiction, we must somehow connect with the characters and the story. There has to be some familiarity, which acts as a hook and a way in. This can be achieved in different ways, but certainly, seeing ourselves reflected in the page, in one way or another, motivates reading.

I wrote a rambling blog post, Representation and Diversity: Creating Little Ripples to Change Everything, a few years ago about this. I've always believed in this, from the time when I was teaching to my time working in libraries. In the context of what's been happening in the last few years since I wrote that blog post, it's more important than ever that we continue to actively advocate for representation and diversity in arts and media.

I know, it's pretty unbelievable that it has to be said and that some people need research to back it up but here we are. So here are some studies and research that I've encountered and read recently. 

Gay Ivey and Peter Johnston, two professors of reading and literacy have published Teens Choosing to Read: Fostering Social, Emotional, and Intellectual Growth Through Books. Their research confirms that teens read more when they can make choices and read things they can relate to. No surprise there. All teachers and librarians know that. 

Their study also shows that reading 'disturbing' or some would describe them as 'inappropriate books that need to be banned' (🙄😡) doesn't turn them into copy cat criminals. On the contrary, teens "described characters’ questionable decisions as cautionary tales, not narratives to live into," and they were desperate to discuss what they read with friends and trusted adults to unpack and make sense of it.

Okay, their study focuses on young adults but I think it's fair to extrapolate those findings to children and adults too. I really don't think that's a stretch and I'd say that readers of all ages read more when they see themselves in the books, when those books and characters serve as mirrors to their identity, experiences, questions. The Impact of a Diverse Classroom Library study and report published by the non-profit First Book presents some really interesting findings that are worth delving into.

One of the key findings in the study is that students spent more time reading after educators added diverse books to their classroom libraries. Again, this reinforces the findings of the previous study and what our instincts tell us. Another key finding of the study is that: 

"both prior to and after expanding the collection of diverse books, students more often chose books to read that served as mirrors (70 percent), in which they could read about characters and experiences that reflected their own lives and experiences."

The study also shows how important it is that students are allowed to choose the books they want to read. Now, that's a really important one that often gets forgotten but it's absolutely essential. We need to have a diverse range of books for a wide range of cultures, identities and experiences. We need to make those accessible to the readers to give them the opportunity to find them but then it's essential that we don't impose and let them choose their reads. The study shows that: 

"students who had been reluctant readers, or had previous engaged in "fake reading" - pretending to read when they actually weren't reading - started reading when given the opportunity to choose from among diverse books."

Not surprisingly then, when students had access to diverse books in their classroom libraries their reading scores increased. The increases were "3 points higher (+9) than nationally expected average yearly gains." Most importantly, "gains were greatest for the lowest scoring students (+11)."

Granted, we need more studies but what all that research tells us is really important. This is why it's so worrying to see constant attacks on books that deal with issues, concerns, experiences and identities that children, young adults and adults want to read about and explore. 

LGBTQIA+ books are the most challenged. That is clear, but the same goes with books that explore racism and colonialism. Books that challenge the official version of history that we have been fed by imperial and colonialist forces. And, new forms of art and media, which are always portrayed as the devil incarnate. 

Let's not forget that serialised novels were claimed to be end of literature. Now Charles Dickens is considered a must read, classic author. 

On a personal note, I have said it many times: I tick all the boxes. I should be the devil incarnate. 

• My only motivation to learn to read was so I could read comics. I've read them my whole life now. 
• When I was about 12 and started listening to music and buying records, I was heavily into punk rock and questioning authority. 
• Then I discovered metal music and fell in love with that too. I'm a punk and a metal-head. 
• I played video games my whole life, sometimes obsessively. 
• I've always been a devoted horror fan since I accidentally watched John Carpenter's The Thing when I was about 12. 
• And I've read a lot of non-fiction that is critical of colonialism, imperialism, and capitalism. Books that explore the other side of the story to what the mainstream media and official versions of history tell us.
• My favourite author is Ursula K. Le Guin. In life, she openly declared herself a feminist and anarchist.

Okay, I'm going a bit off topic here. Rambling a bit. But the point is that all those things that some orcs are attacking as dangerous, that they challenge and want to ban, those are the things that made me seek more and more books, arts and media. They are the ones that turned me into an avid reader.

And more importantly, into a better human.

So why are public libraries, classroom libraries, and libraries staffed by conscientious and informed librarians important? Because, we want people reading, we want informed citizens and in a world where misinformation and disinformation are everywhere. A world where democracy is waning and authoritarian regimes and political parties are on the increase (here's a report that discusses the current status of 63 democracies and 74 autocracies), we need informed and engaged citizens more than ever.

The autocrats and their followers, the conservatives and those who seek to ban texts they deem inappropriate, want people who are less informed, who toe the line. They want libraries depleted of staff who will curate a collection that caters to everyone in the community with diverse and quality publications. 

We can't let that happen. Libraries have never been and will never be neutral. We need to own this and ensure that we're active.

The Impact of a Diverse Classroom Library study and report mentioned above says this in its conclusion (emphasis from the original text): 

"increasing access to diverse books in the classroom environment increases the amount of time that children spend reading, and positively impacts students’ reading scores. It also reveals that while educators almost uniformly believe that a diverse classroom library is important, most classroom libraries fall far short of representing or reflecting the current diverse student population."

We know it's important, we know we need to defend this and be pro-active. But are we doing enough?