RUSA CODES Diversity in RA Convo Announcement

The RUSA CODES Readers' Advisory and Trends Committee considers issues, concerns, and trends relative to the development of readers' advisory services in all types of libraries. Our Spring 2016 CODES CONVO, happening online March 15/16, from 9 am ET - 8 pm ET, will be addressing the topic of Diversity in Reader's Advisory.

When #WeNeedDiverseBooks came on the scene in May 2014, publishers and librarians were asked to carefully consider the policies and decisions about the books and authors they choose to publish, and those which are chosen for purchase and library circulation. Publisher Lee and Low recently published the results of The 2015 Diversity Baseline Survey, revealing that diversity is not only needed in books, it is needed in staff across the publishing industry.

New Twists to the CONVO

The Spring CODES CONVO will be offering two new twists. In the week prior to the online conversation, RUSA CODES RATC will be hosting a podcast by YA and adult fiction author, Daniel Jose Older, on the topic of diversity in fiction, the cause of #WNDB, and the need for multicultural reading experiences. This will serve as a launch pad for our discussions on March 15 and 16.

In addition, we are excited to have a guest poster joining us online on March 15, from 2-4 pm ET. Robin Bradford has worked in academic and public libraries, as a page, library assistant and librarian, in circ, and reference, and tech services, in big cities and small towns. Since 2001, she has done fiction collection development, in a variety of formats. Other areas have come and gone, but fiction has always remained. Currently, she is working in the state of Washington for the Timberland Regional Library system, and is active in the #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement.

This two day conversation will examine Diversity in Readers' Advisory from every angle, from how to provide RA service to a patron from an unfamiliar culture to how we can encourage greater diversity in library and publishing professions.

To subscribe to the conversation, click here.