LibraryReads: Favorites for 2021

Each month I post the LibraryReads list here on the blog using this tag. For those of you less familiar with LibrayReads, here are the basics from the "About" page:

LibraryReads is the monthly nationwide library staff picks list for adult fiction and non-fiction. Our goal is to help connect readers to as many books as possible, while drawing upon the incredible power that public library staff has in helping to build word-of-mouth for new books, and the important role that libraries play in creating audiences for all kinds of authors.

Rather than picking “the best” of anything, LibraryReads represents collective favorites—the books library staff loved reading and cannot wait to share. There are no judges or juries. (see our infographic!) Participation is open to everyone who works in a public library, whether senior staff or new arrivals, in any area of the library. LibraryReads is designed to be inclusive and diverse, representing a broad range of reading tastes and showcasing a variety of new titles, including buzzed-about debuts, genre favorites, bestselling authors, and lesser-known midlist titles that public library staff are raving about.

At the end of the year, LibraryReads puts every single monthly title up to a vote for the Favorites of the year. Yesterday, that list came out here.

I am not going to post every title from the annual list and its annotation like I do for the monthly lists. Why? Well, the main reason I post them at all is so that these titles are searchable on my blog. Since every single one of these titles has already appeared on the blog, there is no need for me to replicate the list. 

Again, go here to see the 2021 Favorite of Favorites.

Instead, I want to use this space today to write about LibraryReads, the HUGE strides the list has made, and the struggles still ahead.

There has been some commentary online about how "White" and "Straight" the 2021 Favorites of Favorites list is. And while I agree, this is not the fault of LibraryReads. This issue the fault of us the library workers. Library workers were the ones who voted on this list and well, the monthly lists themselves were inclusive. The fact that you, the library worker only voted for white people is the problem-- your problem.

I asked Executive director Rebecca Vnuk for some general numbers to frame this conversation better. Here is some of the information I was sent in an email by Vnuk framed by the questions I asked her to address:

When I asked for some tangible numbers about the books that appeared throughout the year, she replied:  

35 non-white authors (30% of the list)

12 (identifiable) LGBTQ authors (10% of the list)

32 debut authors (26% of the list)

When I asked for general overview of what made the lists in 2021, she shared:

2021 showed us that our readers were very into rom-coms once again this year (I think it's been the top genre for the last 2 years now, which honestly, in a pandemic, does not surprise me one bit); but this year saw a good increase in horror as well. Historical fiction and suspense/thrillers also remain popular. We are particularly pleased with the increase in debut authors hitting the list, which we know our Hall of Fame contributes to. Our readers don't tend to vote much for literary fiction or nonfiction, but that's been pretty consistent from the start, so not a surprise.

This last quote refers to the Hall of Fame, which I am on record is saying was one of the best things LibraryReads did to make their list more diverse and to open up space for new voices in general. As I wrote back in March of 2019 in this post:

And finally, before I get to my standard Library Reads Day preamble and post, I also wanted to comment on how well the Hall of Fame is working out. Again, two titles that would not have made the list are there because of the Hall of Fame. The entire point of the Library Reads list is to show that library workers can identify and then promote excellent titles that many people would not know about without our great work. It is for us to flex our muscles and show our power to sell books. When we remove uber popular authors from the equation, we increase visibility of other great titles and give them a boost. Plus, the Hall of Fame page is becoming its own great resource of sure bets.

But even more importantly, as I predicted, the Hall of Fame has also allowed more diverse authors to be included on the list. When we remove something that has been there 2x before, we are allowing more voices "to the table." And when you include more voices, diversity should follow. I'm glad to see that has happened.

And since I said that, the list has only gotten better. But again, the lists are more diverse because of the Hall of Fame and an increased awareness in voters seeking out titles by marginalized voices, but that doesn't mean we have solved systemic racism. Like all of us who try to live actively anti-racist, LibraryReads is fighting 400 years of systemic oppression in our society. But if it took 400 years to get to where we are today, it isn't going to resolve easily and with one group alone. 

This fight is a marathon. LibraryReads cannot force the 88% white, cis-het ladies that dominate our profession to be actively anti-racist. Trust me, I know, as I engage in this work as part of my regular work.

What LibraryReads can do is work within their sphere of influence to effect change. And that they have as demonstrated above. You still have to vote.

Another area where Vnuk has worked very hard to dismantle the white monolith that is librarianship is to diversify the Board itself. When I asked her about this she replied: 

We have put together a wonderfully diverse board. Currently 50% of the board is nonwhite and 30% of the Board identifies as LGBTQ.

LibraryReads has done a better job of looking like the world at large than our profession. But the list, those are only as good as the votes you enter. They will not manipulate the list to make us look better. They are very clear on that. The votes are counted and they come in. The work of making the list more diverse is up to each and every one of you. 

All of this being said, LibraryReads is an excellent resource always. I will continue to post the lists each month and proudly. Those keep getting more diverse in every way-- from genre to identity of the authors to new voices.

But you all have to think about why you are voting more. I'm glad you all love Kristin Hannah, but honestly, she doesn't need any promotion. Your vote holds power for LibraryReads. Leverage that power to lift up a marginalized author. Who cares if it isn't your true favorite of favorites? Think about how the list is used, the authors it most helps, and then vote that way. 

LibraryReads is already working to uplift marginalized voices as much as they can. Now it is your turn to change the way you think about the list and your vote.