School Library Collection Diversity Toolkit

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Intended Audience

School libraries and librarians

A. B. Kirkland, J. Jeffery and C. Koechlin, Canadian School Libraries

2022

“School libraries are places of wonder. In the library, we get to see new worlds, walk in others’ shoes and experience things we would never otherwise get to experience. Learning in the library is based on inquiry, discovery, and the free exploration of ideas. The library learning commons program fosters creativity and facilitates knowledge creation, and builds communities of learners, within an information-rich environment.

The collection is the foundation of learning in the library. The freedom to explore ideas and pursue interests, and expert instruction to develop deep skills for inquiry and information literacy rely on the foundation of that collection.

The library collection includes the print resources on the shelves, and the large collections of virtual resources accessed through online subscription databases. It includes resources in a wide variety of formats to meet the needs and preferences of all learners; from audiobooks and ebooks to tools for making and ephemera to inspire creativity. The collection also includes expert curations to help learners dig into and make sense of the wide world of resources beyond the library’s physical and virtual walls.

Library professionals have an important role to play and a responsibility in ensuring collections are of the highest quality and represent people authentically. Our collections must be relevant, responsive and current.”

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SDGs LINKAGES

The resource can support the achievement of a number of SDG targets relating to inclusion and representation. These include 1.4 (universal access to basic services), 4.5 (remove barriers in education), 4.7 (Education for Sustainable Development), 4.A (effective and inclusive learning environments), 5.1 (end all forms of discrimination against women and girls), 5.C (adopt policies for gender equality and inclusion of women and girls), 9.1 (inclusive infrastructure for wellbeing and inclusion), 10.2 (universal social, economic and political inclusion), 10.3 (eliminate discriminatory policies and practices), 10.4 (policies and practices for equality of outcomes), 11.4 (strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard cultural and natural heritage), 11.7 (safe and welcoming green and public spaces), 16.10 (protect the right to information and fundamental freedoms) and 16.B (promote laws and policies for sustainable development).

Click on the SDG Target to discover Our Collections Matter indicators

SDG 1.4: Equal Rights to Ownership, Basic Services, Technology and Economic Resources
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Numbers and proportions of people from particular groups using collections in comparison with demographics in broader society.
Numbers of people accessing collections.
Number of targeted programmes that aim to enhance access to collections by disadvantaged groups.
Sustainable tourism that enhances local communities’ access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property (including cultural and natural heritage), as well as to technology and markets.
Involvement of people from disadvantaged groups in decision-making activities and processes relating to collections and collections-based institutions.
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SDG 4.5: Eliminate all Discrimination in Education
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number of educational and/or training programmes drawing on collections directed to eliminate gender disparities in education.
Number of educational and/or training programmes drawing on collections directed to meet the particular needs of persons with disabilities.
Number of educational and/or training programmes drawing on collections directed to meet the particular needs of Indigenous peoples’ groups.
Number of educational and/or training programmes drawing on collections directed to meet the particular needs of children in vulnerable situations.
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SDG 4.7: Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Numbers of people in each type of programme drawing on collections from different demographic groups.
Increases in numbers of people in each type of programme from different demographic groups.
Proportion of people involved in such programmes in relation to overall audience size.
Evidence that learners have acquired knowledge and skills to promote sustainable development.
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SDG 4.A: Build and Upgrade Inclusive and Safe Schools
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number and proportion of education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive.
Proportion of education facilities that provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all.
Number and type of initiatives to improve effectiveness of learning environments.
Support given to other education facilities to make them more inclusive and effective.
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SDG 5.1: End Discrimination Against Women and Girls
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Collections development to ensure that collections effectively meet the needs of all, irrespective of sex or gender.
Number and proportion of educational and participatory programmes that promote participation irrespective of sex or gender.
Numbers and proportions of girls, women and gender-diverse people making use of collections in relation to the demographic of the local population.
Numbers and proportions of girls, women and gender-diverse people involved in focused programmes aimed at promoting social, economic and political inclusion.
Numbers and proportions of girls, women and gender-diverse people from different demographic groups involved in decision-making processes relating to collections and collections-based institutions.
Number and types of partnerships that build relationships with people of different sex and gender.
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SDG 5.C: Adopt and Strengthen Policies and Enforceable Legislation for Gender Equality
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number and proportion of policies relating to collections and collections-based institutions that incorporate gender perspectives to promote gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls at all levels.
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SDG 9.1: Develop Sustainable, Resilient and Inclusive Infrastructures
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Development of research-useful collections to support reliable, sustainable and resilient use by researchers and others.
Number and proportion of collections facilities and stores that support economic development and human well-being.
Number and proportion of collections facilities and stores that provide affordable and equitable access for all.
Investment in collections facilities.
Inclusion of collections information in regional and transborder initiatives, notably via digital access for discoverability.
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SDG 10.2: Promote Universal Social Economic and Political Inclusion
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Collections development to ensure that collections effectively meet the needs of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
Number and proportion of educational and participatory programmes that promote participation irrespective of social or other status.
Numbers and proportions of people making use of collections in relation to the demographic of the local population.
Numbers and proportions of people involved in focused programmes aimed at promoting social, economic and political inclusion.
Numbers and proportions of people from different demographic groups involved in decision-making processes relating to collections and collections-based institutions.
Number and types of partnerships that build relationships with marginalized groups, individuals and communities.
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SDG 10.3: Ensure Equal Opportunities and End Discrimination
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Identification of discriminatory policies and practices, with clear plans to address these, to ensure equal opportunity for all and reduce inequalities of outcome.
Collections development to uphold and promote legislation and anti-discriminatory perspectives, with the aim of reducing inequality within and between countries.
Education and participatory programmes that promote anti-discriminatory legislation, policies and action, with the aim of reducing inequality within and between countries.
Research that supports anti-discriminatory legislation, policies and action, with the aim of reducing inequality within and between countries.
Participation in partnerships that promote anti-discriminatory legislation, policies and action, with the aim of reducing inequality within and between countries.
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SDG 10.4: Adopt Fiscal and Social Policies that Promotes Equality
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number and proportion of policies that proactively address equality issues relating to fiscal, wage and social protection considerations.
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SDG 11.4: Protect the Worlds Cultural and Natural Heritage
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Total expenditure (public and private) per capita spent on the preservation, protection and conservation of all cultural and natural heritage, by type of heritage.
Plans, policies and procedures in place for the safe use of collections for a variety of purposes, protecting and safeguarding both collections and those who use them.
Plans, policies and procedures in place for the identification, safeguarding and protection of cultural and natural heritage at risk.
Collecting programmes in place to protect, safeguard and make use of cultural and natural heritage, addressing the needs of communities and stakeholders, and ensuring that collections can be an effective resource for sustainable development.
Number and diversity of educational, awareness-raising, research programmes, and partnerships that aim to strengthen protection of cultural and natural heritage.
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SDG 11.7: Provide Access to Safe and Inclusive Green and Public Spaces
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Numbers of people accessing collecting institutions from different demographic groups, notably women, children, older people and persons with disabilities.
Increases in numbers of people accessing collecting institutions from different demographic groups.
Measures taken to remove barriers to access green and public spaces.
Extent of green space provided by collections institutions.
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SDG 16.10: Ensure Public Access to Information and Protect Fundamental Freedoms
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Adopt and implement constitutional, statutory and/or policy guarantees for public access to information.
Plans in place, and plans implemented to enhance public access to information relating to collections.
Plans in place, and plans implemented to support fundamental freedoms, in line with human rights, national and international agreements and legislation.
Plans and procedures in place for public access to information relating to the operation and management of collections-based institutions.
Complaint mechanism in place for public to use where public access to information and fundamental freedoms not supported or fulfilled.
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SDG 16.B: Promote and Enforce Non-Discriminatory Laws and Policies
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Proportion of population [audience/users/non-users] reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law.
Number and proportion of policies that incorporate sustainable development considerations, in the full sense of recognizing all three of social, economic and environmental considerations.
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SDGs