Diverse and Inclusive Collections: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights

Former title “Diverse Collections”

A diverse and inclusive collection reflects everyone in the community. Article I of the Library Bill of Rights states:

Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.[i]

This means the collection should include content by and about people from different backgrounds, cultures, and viewpoints. It should reflect many ideas, stories, and experiences.

Library workers mustselect,maintain,andsupportaccesstomaterialsfrom diverse authors and creators. This helps the collection serve the community’s needs, interests, and abilities. Libraries should include materials that are popular, diverse, or both, to ensure a well-rounded and inclusive collection. Library workers have a professional and ethical duty to be inclusive when devel-oping collections. Libraries should offer interlibrary loan whenever possible to give users access to a broader and more diverse range of materials.

A well-balanced collection doesn’t need to include every viewpoint in equal amounts. Instead, it should aim for equity in content and ideas. This means considering structural inequalities and the availability of accurate, timely materials. A diverse and inclusive collection should have a wide range of works. Library workers should choose these works based on the library’s selection policy and review them regularly.

Collection development, cataloging, and classification follow professional standards and procedures. Building a diverse and inclusive collection means:

  • selecting content in multiple formats;
  • consideringresourcesfromself-published,independent,small,andlocal producers;
  • looking for content created by or about marginalized and underrepresented groups;
  • checking how metadata reflects diverse resources in the collection;
  • reviewing how diverse materials are labeled, shelved, and displayed;
  • including content in all the languages used in the community, for all age groups; and
  • offering materials in accessible formats.[ii]

Library workers shouldn’t exclude materials just because others find the content or creator offensive or controversial. They also shouldn’t let their own personal beliefs or objections influence their decisions. Refusing to add re-sources due to potential controversy is censorship. Removing materials for these reasons is also censorship. Libraries must defend against challenges that limit the diversity of the collection.

People oftenchallengelibrarymaterialstheythinkareimproper,offensive, or disputed. These challenges cover a wide range of concerns, such as:

  • Prejudicial language
  • Political ideas
  • Economic theories
  • Age appropriateness
  • Educational value
  • Social philosophies
  • Religious beliefs
  • Marginalized groups
  • Scientific research
  • Sexual content
  • Diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions

Library workers shouldn’t let the fear of a challenge stop them from adding diverse and inclusive materials to the collection.

Intellectual freedom is the foundation of equitable library services. This means libraries provide free access to all kinds of ideas so people can explore a question, cause, or movement. Library workers have a professional and ethical duty to defend each user’s right to read, view, or listen to content protected by the First Amendment. They must defend this right, regardless of the creator’s viewpoint or personal history. Professional ethics and standards — not personal opinions or biases — should guide collection decisions. This commitment helps library workers build diverse and inclusive collections for their communities.[iii, iv, v]

Notes

[i] American Library Association, “Library Bill of Rights,” adopted June 19, 1939, by the ALA Council; amended October 14, 1944; June 18, 1948; February 2,1961; June 27, 1967; January 23, 1980; January 29, 2019. Inclusion of “age” reaffirmed January 23, 1996. https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill

[ii] American Library Association, “Services to People with Disabilities: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights,” adopted January 28, 2009, by the ALA Council under the previous name “Services to Persons with Disabilities”; amended June 26, 2018; and June 29, 2025. https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/servicespeopledisabilities

[iii] American Library Association, “ALA Code of Ethics, Article VII,” adopted at the 1939 Midwinter Meeting by the ALA Council; amended June 30, 1981; June 28, 1995; January 22, 2008; and June 29, 2021, https://www.ala.org/tools/ethics

[iv] American Library Association, “Diverse and Inclusive Collections,” adopted July 14, 1982, by the ALA Council; amended January 10, 1990; July 2, 2008; July 1, 2014 under the previous name “Diversity in Collection Development”; and June 24, 2019 under the previous name “Diverse Collections”; and May 29, 2025, https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/diversecollections

[v] American Library Association, “ALA Core Competencies,” adopted by the ALA Council January 28, 2023, https://www.ala.org/educationcareers/careers/corecomp/corecompetences

Adopted July 14, 1982, by the ALA Council; amended January 10, 1990; July2, 2008; July 1, 2014 (under previous name “Diversity in Collection Development”); and June 24, 2019 (under previous name “Diverse Collections”); and May 29, 2025.