Publisher's Synopsis
This important book is one of the first in the field to explore the myriad issues surrounding racial and ethnic diversity in academic libraries. It triggers thought, discussion, and understanding to guide readers as they take action to resolve diversity issues in their own institutions. After an overview of the state of diversity in academic libraries, the book addresses training, mentoring, and supervision; building diversity collections; access to diversity materials; electronic and print reference sources for multicultural subjects; and work with racially and ethnically diverse student populations. Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Academic Libraries will increase readers'awareness of the these and other issues and help them respond to the challenges of diversity. Authors, writing from a variety of perspectives, define and elaborate on the concepts of “diversity” and “multiculturalism” and discuss how libraries and librarians are dealing with questions surrounding these concepts. Full of insight and helpful suggestions, chapters examine:
- the effects of affirmative action and the future for librarians of color
- how best to incorporate multicultural issues into library education and bibliographic instruction programs
- methods for developing multicultural collections
- the validity of Library of Congress subject headings for cataloging diversity materials
- racism within the library professionAcademic librarians and library professionals, academic faculty, and graduate students in the field of library and information science will find Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Academic Libraries an enlightening and informative guide. While specifically targeting academic libraries, the book is also helpful in other types of libraries, including public and school libraries.
