Building an Anti-Bias Library
We all know by now that children need both "mirror" and "window" books: They need to see themselves and their families reflected in the books that are in their classrooms and school libraries, as well as they need to have their world opened up to the world of others through books. That means that we need anti-bias libraries in every classroom and school! How do we do it? One step at a time.
The first step: analyze the books that you currently have in your classroom and school libraries. Check to see:
1. If you have every race represented, and various cultures within each race (especially every race and culture represented in your school community)
2. How each race and culture is represented. Are stereotypes portrayed in the books that you have? Is there diversity in the subject matter?, e.g., Are all of your books with African American characters about slavery? Are all of your books with Native American characters set in the past and historical in nature?
3. If you have books that represent various family structures, physical and metal abilities, ages (how are the elderly portrayed in your books?), and non-stereotypical gender roles and preferences.
The second step:
1. Remove any books that have potentially hurtful or harmful stereotypes and then
2. Purchase books that fill in the gaps that you found from completing step one above!
I know that this can seem like an overwhelming task! Even if you would like to, how do you find the time? And if you found the time, how then do you find books to create a truly anti-bias library?
I have two suggestions!
1. I can send you a checklist form that I created that can help you stay organized as you analyze your books, and will visually show you in what areas your library is lacking when it is completed. I can also send you links of numerous book lists that have been put online by various organizations. Please contact me! Or,
2. I can come in and do it all for you! Your school or district can hire me to come in and assess the school's books, I can make recommendations of the books you'd need to add in order to adequately diversify your libraries, and then since I am an independent bookseller I can be the supplier of the books as well!
If suggestion number two sounds appealing to you, please share this with your administration and then contact me. I have worked with several school groups and organizations and would love to work with you and yours! Either way, please let me know how I can assist you as you work to build an anti-bias library for your students. We're in this together, one step at a time!
The first step: analyze the books that you currently have in your classroom and school libraries. Check to see:
1. If you have every race represented, and various cultures within each race (especially every race and culture represented in your school community)
2. How each race and culture is represented. Are stereotypes portrayed in the books that you have? Is there diversity in the subject matter?, e.g., Are all of your books with African American characters about slavery? Are all of your books with Native American characters set in the past and historical in nature?
3. If you have books that represent various family structures, physical and metal abilities, ages (how are the elderly portrayed in your books?), and non-stereotypical gender roles and preferences.
The second step:
1. Remove any books that have potentially hurtful or harmful stereotypes and then
2. Purchase books that fill in the gaps that you found from completing step one above!
I know that this can seem like an overwhelming task! Even if you would like to, how do you find the time? And if you found the time, how then do you find books to create a truly anti-bias library?
I have two suggestions!
1. I can send you a checklist form that I created that can help you stay organized as you analyze your books, and will visually show you in what areas your library is lacking when it is completed. I can also send you links of numerous book lists that have been put online by various organizations. Please contact me! Or,
2. I can come in and do it all for you! Your school or district can hire me to come in and assess the school's books, I can make recommendations of the books you'd need to add in order to adequately diversify your libraries, and then since I am an independent bookseller I can be the supplier of the books as well!
If suggestion number two sounds appealing to you, please share this with your administration and then contact me. I have worked with several school groups and organizations and would love to work with you and yours! Either way, please let me know how I can assist you as you work to build an anti-bias library for your students. We're in this together, one step at a time!
