Develop Collections

Developing collections can be a great way to attract and serve diverse, multicultural and multilingual populations. Explore resources to help build collections that reflect the diversity of your community.

Create inclusive collection development policies to help your organization plan for and deliver quality collections that match your diverse community. See successful models and read tips from other libraries.

Our booklists aid development of collections to serve various language groups or specific populations. Find vendors and see lists of recommended multicultural and multilingual materials.

Additional spanish language resources give specific information about building Spanish collections. Bi-lingual resources are included as well as resources in Spanish.

Excellent additional information about building collections and accessibility of collections is found in the read more section. Explore databases, online resources, and facts about multi cultural literary awards. See book lists, bibliographies and a wealth of resources about collections for various cultures and languages.

Policies & Tips

• Policy: Foreign Language Materials
  Policy from Pasadena Public Library on collecting foreign language materials embedded within the comprehensive collection development policy
  http://www.ci.pasadena.ca.us/Library/collection.asp#Foreign-Language-Materials
• Training for Arizona Libraries: Collection Development Policies
  Recommended practices including diversity and community needs
  http://www.lib.az.us/cdt/colldev.aspx
• Developing Multicultural Collections
  Part of a comprehensive website, this page covers library collection and web development including links to ALA and IFLA as well as steps to planning to include more materials
  http://www.collectionscanada.ca/multicultural/005007-300-e.html
• How To Choose The Best Multicultural Books for Children
  Brief tips on how to choose appropriate books from Scholastic Instructor
  http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/instructor/multicultural.htm

Booklists

TIP: For booklists, try searching major cities' library sites and catalogues. They often feature new titles or list foreign language resources.

• ADL's World of Difference Institute
  Recommended multicultural & anti-bias books for children from the Anti-Defamation League
  http://www.adl.org/bibliography/default.asp
• PolyTalk Foreign Language Vendors
  Lists vendor contacts for 12+ languages, compiled by Chicago Public Library and part of Illinois library translator network website
  http://www.polytalk.info/resources.html
• American Indian Library Association
  Book lists, bibliographies and awards (some info is not updated) for Indian library-related services from this ALA affiliate
  http://aila.library.sd.gov/
• Barahona Center for the Study of Books in Spanish for Children and Adolescents
  Searchable booklists of Spanish and English books including bibliographical books, from an academic center that promotes literacy in English and Spanish
  http://www.csusm.edu/csb/
• Críticas Magazine
  "English Speaker's Guide to Latest Spanish Language Titles"
  http://www.criticasmagazine.com
• Database of Award-Winning Children's Literature
  Librarian's site where you can search for titles by ethnicity, country, multi cultural and language
  http://www.dawcl.com/search.asp

Additional Spanish-Language Resources

• America Reads Spanish
  Campaign and bilingual site to promote reading in Spanish, published by Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade and Spanish Association of Publishers Guilds with newsletter, books and publisher profiles
  http://www.americareadsspanish.org/en/recomendados.asp
• Guidelines for Developing a Core Spanish Language Collection for Adults (pdf)
  Outlines Spanish collection, programming, weeding and outreach from New Mexico State Library, 2002
  http://www.hals.lib.tx.us/pdf/spanish_language.pdf
• Letras Libras--Mexican Cultural Journal
  Literature news in English and Spanish
  http://www.letraslibres.com/
• REFORMA Colorado Collection Development Resources
  REFORMA-Colorado guidelines for services as well as book & weblinks
  http://reformacolorado.org/resources.htm
• Selecting Spanish-Language Materials for Adults
  An excellent PowerPoint summary of ALA-ASCLA Professional Development Online Course from 2006
  /cdelib/download/ppt/ASCLA_SelectingSpanishLanguageMaterials.ppt


• Serving Diverse Populations: Public Libraries and the Spanish-Speaking Population.
  Basic tenents from this University of Illinois LIS Clips issue are applicable to many diverse populations
  http://clips.lis.uiuc.edu/2005_03.html#3
• Who's Who in U.S. Spanish-Language Publishing
  Addressing challenges in developing a collection of Spanish-language books. High Demand, Short Supply, and the Market's Savvy Buyers Managing Spanish-language Collection Development, by Raya Kuzyk, November 15, 2006
  http://www.criticasmagazine.com/article/CA6383044.html

Read More: Develop Collections

• Resources from New Jersey Libraries
  From 2004 New Jersey conference on diversity, comprehensive list of bibliographies, vendors and collection development information
  http://www.infolink.org/diversity/rgcollections.htm
• Foreign Language Collection for Libraries (pdf)
  Arapahoe Library District presentation on selecting foreign language materials covers assessment how-to, selection, and cataloguing.
  http://www.cal-webs.org/handouts06/Language.pdf

Read More: Schools

• "Good Intentions Are Not Enough"
  Article on school use of multicultural and Native American books, including web and book lists. McElmeel, Sharron. ERIC# EJ717581
  Library Media Connection, v23 n3 p30 Nov 2004
  http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/Home.portal?_nfpb=true&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=mcelmeel&searchtype=keyword&ERICExtSearch
  _SearchType_0=au&_pageLabel=RecordDetails&objectId=0900000b8042ea2c&accno=
  EJ717581&_nfls=false
• OutreachWorld
  "A Resource for Teaching Kids about the World"--ready-to use teaching units, book awards, and world events
  http://www.outreachworld.org/
• Multicultural Literacy Webliography
  Instructional resources and booklists aimed at teachers and literacy
  http://www.literacy.uconn.edu/multilit.htm

Read More: Electronic & Print Materials

• Penn State Diversity Resources' Database Links
  Sample list of diversity databases
  http://meld.tlt.psu.edu/index.jsp
• Latin American Ejournals
  Electronic journals at Columbia University
  http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/indiv/latam/ejournals.html
• "The American Experience: Strength from Diversity"
  Annotated bibliography of 28 children's picture books celebrating diverse cultures in American society from ALA's Association of Library Services to Children published in Journal of Youth Services in Libraries, v15 n4 p42-43 Sum 2002. ERIC#: EJ657762
  http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/Home.portal?_nfpb=true&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=EJ657762&searchtype=basic&ERICExtSearch_
  SearchType_0=kw&_pageLabel=RecordDetails&objectId=0900019b80156dc6&accno=
  EJ657762&_nfls=false
• Building Collections: Recognizing and Appreciating Differences
  Article describes 30 children's books in which the authors illustrate the power of words to change misconceptions about differences into an appreciation of diversity. Krapp, Joanna. School Library Media Activities Monthly v21 n4, p43-44.
  http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/Home.portal?_nfpb=true&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=EJ720705&searchtype=basic&ERICExtSearch_
  SearchType_0=no&_pageLabel=RecordDetails&objectId=0900000b80420bd1&accno=
  EJ720705&_nfls=false
• International Children's Digital Library
  Searchable database of online books
  http://www.icdlbooks.org/icdl/SimpleSearchCategory
• Multicultural Book Reviews
  Reviews listed by ethnicity and a links page for multicultural and educational resources
  http://www.isomedia.com/homes/jmele/joe.html
• REFORMA Links to Literature
  Booksellers and articles in Spanish and for Spanish-speaking patron services
  http://www.reforma.org/refogold.htm
• Diversity Inc Online Magazine
  Articles on diversity issues, resource guide and diversity benchmarking
  http://diversityinc.com/

If you find broken links or for further information please contact
Jean Heilig, 303-866-6731 or heilig_j@cde.state.co.us 

     
This project was funded by a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Grant.