Our Collections

We select books and materials to create windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors* to the world and to reflect our community’s own interests. We aim to even the playing field for our community members with access to resources, tools, and equipment.

Examples of recent progress include:

• In 2022, we conducted the first full diversity audit of our printed books for all ages using the Ingram iCurate services. We have purchased books to fill identified gaps in our collection.
• In 2021, we added Chromebooks and hotspots to help make internet access more accessible during the COVID pandemic.
• We added a Library of Things collection in 2019 and have added to it annually to help even the playing field with access to STEM and recreational resources.
• We budget to purchase materials from diverse and emerging authors. 
• We broadened our world language collections. We now have simplified Chinese children's board books, Japanese and French children’s board books, and expanded our all-ages Spanish collection. We have been fortunate to send our Spanish-language selector to Guadalajara, Mexico, to the world’s largest Spanish-language book fair to buy culturally appropriate Spanish-language materials, and continue to purchase materials through this fair annually in partnership with WCCLS. 

*The concept of Windows, Mirrors, and Sliding Glass Doors guides much of our work and was originally written about by Rudine Sims Bishop in 1990.

Go back to the full list of our equity work here.