Day of Diversity - Día

Dia banner

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), in collaboration with the Children’s Book Council (CBC), hosted a Day of Diversity: Dialogue and Action in Children’s Literature and Library Program on Jan. 30, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. This invitation-only event brought together leaders in children’s literature and literacy to discuss strategies for ensuring that all children have access Day of Diversity - welcome screento diverse literature and library programming. Recognizing the conversations at the event was of interest to a much larger audience than we were able to accommodate at the Day of Diversity, ALSC and the CBC Diversity Committee sponsored a follow up program at ALA Midwinter.

For more information about the Day of Diversity please see the ALA Press Release: ALSC, CBC announce Day of Diversity: Dialogue and Action

After the Day of Diversity, the ALSC Board of Directors reflected on the Day of Diversity and put together a list of commitments by the Association for the next three months and the next six months. Information about these next steps can be found on the ALSC Blog.

Materials and Resources from the Day of Diversity, as well as links to ALSC’s follow up activities can be found on this page.

Organizers

The Day of Diversity: Dialogue and Action in Children’s Literature and Library Programming is presented by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) in collaboration with the Children’s Book Council (CBC). Members who make up the planning task force for the day include: Allie Jane Bruce (co-chair), Jamie Campbell Naidoo (co-chair), Antonio Gonzalez (CBC rep), Zareen Jaffery (CBC rep), Claudette McLinn, Ana-Elba Pavon (REFORMA rep), Nancy Snyder, Gretchen Wronka, Ayanna Coleman (CBC task force administrator), and Joanna Ison (ALSC task force administrator).

Sponsors

The Day of Diversity: Dialogue and Action in Children’s Literature and Library Programming was made possible through the Everyone Reads @ your library grant; awarded to ALSC by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. The Day of Diversity Networking Reception was made possible through the generosity of the Chicago Public Library and Friends of ALSC.

Recommended Readings

Day of Diversity facilitator at front of roomThe below readings articles and websites were suggested readings to participants prior to the Day of Diversity.

Diversity in Children’s Literature: History and Myths

Literacy Programming: Forming Partnerships and Sharing Resources

Moving into Action

Day of Diversity schedule, handouts, and presentations

Speakers at table in front of roomPlease note that we were unable to capture the entirety of the event through audio and video recordings, below are links to the portions of the day that were captured.

Agenda and Handouts

Keynote: From Broken Yolks to Party Folks: The Importance of Libraries and Literacy in Keeping Diversity Alive For Our Children

Panel 1: Diversity in Children’s Literature: History and Myths

Panel 2: Literacy Programming: Forming Partnerships and Sharing Resources

Day of Diversity Recaps

Many participants in the Day of Diversity have shared their experience through online articles and blog posts. Read more about the day below!