Diverse Classroom Libraries
Education Librarian
Introduction
What is a diverse classroom library?
A diverse classroom library is a library within a classroom that includes books that represent a wide variety of groups. The purpose of including diverse groups into literature is so all students can see aspects of themselves in the books they are reading. Diverse groups include the topics:
sociocultural, ethnic/racial, and disability.
Why do we need diverse classroom libraries?
Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop '59 created the idea of Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors that describes the different types of representation and its importance in literature. Mirrors are stories that have characters or experiences that emulate aspects of the reader's life. The reader can see themself within the story. Windows are stories that detail characters or experiences that are unfamiliar to the reader. The reader is seeing life from a different perspective by looking through the text as if it were a window. Sliding glass doors are stories that fully immerse the reader into the text. The reader feels as if they are within the story (Bishop, 1990). These different forms of representation are needed in classroom libraries so students can relate to the course content and learn from it. When one sees themself within their literature, they begin to make connections, use their funds of knowledge to enhance their education, and feel a sense of belonging within the classroom (Michigan Department of Education, 2022). When one uses a text as a window, they begin to amplify their overall knowledge of the world and make new connections with those who are different than themself (Michigan Department of Education, 2022). The need for a diverse classroom library is growing in modern times and is a highly encouraged teaching strategy.
What topics should be included in a diverse classroom library?
Acknowledgments
This resources is not meant to be an exhaustive list. It was created by Michelle McDaniel '24 based on knowledge learned from scholarly articles, four years of college courses, lived experience, and a diversity fellowship lead by Dr. David Barry, Dr. Daris McInnis, and Professor Katie Manwiller at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Professor Manwiller maintains this guide.