Staff Publications - University Libraries
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-2022
Abstract
The University Library assessed diversity in the book collection by comparing lists of diversity-related award-winning titles to our holdings. Of 618 total titles under consideration, the DePaul University Library holds 281 (45%). By genre, the library holds 37% of the available fiction titles (75 of 202), 54% of the non-fiction titles (185 of 345), and 30% of the poetry titles (21 of 71).
While it’s not guaranteed that all of these award winners match our collection needs or scope, we can take some simple steps to share awareness of these and similar books so that librarians can easily browse the titles for selection. We recommend creating a shared space for posting award winning titles and other titles that reflect diverse voices and content, on a regular schedule. We will work with the incoming IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) Coordinator to determine the details around the acquisition of these titles, the maintenance of the lists, and the responsibility for making purchasing decisions. We can also increase campus awareness by posting newly acquired diversity-related titles of interest on social media, the library blog, our online collections space, or through direct emails with faculty.
Recommended Citation
Schwartz, Jennifer. (2022) Assessing Diversity in the Collection.
https://via.library.depaul.edu/lib_pubs/136