Emory Libraries Collection Diversity Efforts Blog Series

This is the first of a series of blog posts to highlight the Libraries’ efforts to build more inclusive and diverse collections, from reflecting under-represented groups and marginalized populations to acquiring more unique material from smaller publishers, to better representing our communities and their interests.

The Emory Libraries are continually assessing and evaluating our collection development practices and resource acquisition in terms of collection building and meeting curricular requirements. In doing so, we continue to make significant deliberate and intentional efforts in diversifying our collections to reflect the scholarship and study of under-represented groups and marginalized populations. The Libraries are placing a distinct emphasis on reviewing and assessing new primary source and AV collections, as well as traditional print materials, that address the experiences and histories of these groups. For example, we are expanding, where possible, the acquisition of smaller publisher and distributor output. In addition, we are looking at ways to accentuate and making these growing collections easier to discover. Finally, we are further assessing, along with other libraries, as to how these collections are cataloged, labeled and displayed.

Over the next several months, several of our subject librarians will contribute blog posts focusing on their efforts to build more inclusive and diverse collections in their respective areas. These blog posts accompany affinity posts that the libraries have been promoting regularly. For example, see the recent post on National American Indian Heritage Month that highlights recent acquisitions and resources for the study of Native Americans. Highlights from the upcoming occasional series will include the collecting of Atlanta hip-hop artists’ materials, the acquisition and cataloging of a large Telugu collection supporting the large Atlanta Telugu community, the growth of our multi-lingual graphic novels collection focusing on new and novel narratives and perspectives on current and historical phenomena, Latin American LGBT and Latinx small press content, and a growing collection of cookbooks (which provide distinct insights into diverse Southern cultures and local economies).

We hope that this occasional series will demonstrate our efforts to expand and make our general, circulating collections more inclusive and representative of our communities and their interests. The Libraries will continue to strive to be at the forefront in its collections and services, as the University engages in difficult and reflective discussion regarding its history and fostering diversity, inclusion and equality in the curriculum and the Emory experience. As always, we welcome the Emory Community’s feedback and input into developing our collections and meeting the evolving needs of the university curriculum.

The images above are for titles that can be located in discoverE.