During my [virtual] travels with Robin Bradford doing Anti-Racist Collection Development and Readers' Advisory training with libraries all over the country, we receive a lot of honest and challenging questions from library workers.
We have them watch our recorded programs at least 1 month before we will appear live for 90 minutes to take questions. We ask them to send in questions ahead of time [to me or some libraries create an anonymous Google Form] so we have something to start the conversation with. This method has lead to much better questions than simply having people pose them live in front of all of their coworkers. Some of these questions could be interpreted as bordering on racist, but Robin and I agree that the fact that they are being asked means people really want to do better.
This did not surprise either of us, but one thing that has been surprising is that often, the library staff have the answer right in front of them, but they need us to help them see the answer.
Today I want to share one of these examples because it triggered an easily replicable display idea, one that allows you to highlight marginalized voices in a different way and encourages all staff to participate in your displays and all of this was contained within the initial question itself. First the question [bolded parts are added by me].
We are discovering many more nonfiction titles that include experiences and stories of marginalized voices which we are adding to our collection. The challenging part is that when we add biographies of unknown people, who have an incredible story to tell, it only seems to generate interest if we write a staff review about the book. Other than specific targeted displays and staff reviews, what suggestions can you give us to promote these nonfiction titles?
My answer to this was contained in the bolded words that the questioner provided. Their library found that a display of "Incredible but Unknown" people was very popular. This does not only have to be a display about marginalized voices, nor does it need to be only nonfiction. What I told this library to do was to create an ongoing, prominently showcased display that was always filled with titles that any and all staff members could contribute to and call it "Incredible but Unknown."
The procedure to nominate titles should be simple: all staff, no matter where they work in the building or where they fall on the organizational chart, should be allowed to nominate a title. Some type of shared, cloud document where all staff can add titles and then one group of staff can manage the queue to keep the title suggestions flowing and the display stocked.
The parameters of the books to include is simply that the staff member thinks it is incredible but unknown. You should be checking the circulation statistics for all nominated titles though, to make sure the book is truly "unknown."
The key here is to begin by focusing on titles by marginalized voices that are not circulating well but if only given a little extra promotion would be enjoyed by patrons. The exact books the questioner was referring to. Instead of buying the books and shelving them within the larger mass of the stacks and then claiming no one wants to read "those" books unless we work very hard, try the oldest trick in the book for increasing circulation of any title....the display!
In general, the goal of a display is to highlight titles that people would not find on their own. Since it is less daunting for patrons to browse displays than the vast stacks, you do not need to write up staff reviews for "these" titles. Just putting any book on display provides a huge boost. Patrons can handle them, read the back, and decide. The display itself is a staff recommendation. No reviews or extra work needed.
And add into the mix the compelling title of "Incredible but Unknown" and you will have a very popular display.
This is also a team building exercise. When all staff participate in your displays not only are they inherently more diverse [because you are pulling form every staff member] but the process also connects everyone to the organization in a fun and collaborative way. There is a sense of ownership when a staff member sees an item they identified on a display-- especially if they don't work in that department or it isn't a part of their normal job. And then if said item gets checked out too....that makes staff even more proud, happy, and excited to be a part of the team.
So consider an "Incredible but Unknown" ongoing display for your library. Get all staff involved. Use it to promote marginalized voices. And then watch those titles fly off the shelves. No longer will you be claiming that "those" titles don't circulate well. And it will not take the extra effort the questioner feared.
The results, an ongoing display that will draw interest from patrons, increased circulation of titles by marginalized voices, and a more engaged staff. Win-win-win!
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