State of Diversity in Publishing and Robin's and My Anti-Racist Training Program

As Robin and I offer our Actively Anti-Racist Service to Leisure Readers workshops and training programs, we work very hard to explain that finding great readers by marginalize voices is not that hard if you prioritize searching them out.

This is not a lie, but it is also true that it is ALWAYS easier to find a book by a straight, cis, white person for any topic or appeal factor. Robin and I discuss at length the issue of systemic oppression that lies at the foundation of our world, a fact that once acknowledged makes it easier to do the work we work to train you to do. 

Once of those pillars, supporting a world where whiteness is the default is the publishing industry. It is mostly white and even with concerted efforts to uplift and publish marginalized voices, the work can only go so far with a mostly white work force. This is not to say they are not trying, but the work  take time.

Last week, Book Riot had this essay with the history of the intentional efforts by the publishing industry to  to diversify itself. The essay includes is a good history of this effort, with links, which began with a Lee & Low survey in 2019. This essay brings us all up to the present and includes multiple reports so that you can have a full picture of the issue.

Information like this is key to our work in libraries, both as we try to provide actively anti-racist service to our readers AND as we are simultaneously struggling with how to diversify our ranks as well.

I  also want remind you that Robin and I are very engaged in this work from every angle, and our Learn With NoveList Active Anti-Racist Service to Readers class is the perfect way to help  be part of the solution. We just had our first of 4 live Q&A's with  the first cohort of learners and it went very well. There is plenty of time to get in and finishing the asynchronous learning before we come back in April for another live session. And once you complete the, you can participate in all three remaining sessions if you want. All for one price.

Click here to see a preview of the class and learn more.

I cannot stress enough how happy Robin and I are with this course. And to be very honest with all of you, it is better and cheaper than if we come to your library. Seriously. 100% better and cheaper.

And to sweetened the deal, use the code "Becky" and receive $40 off for 1 person, or email learnwithnovelist@ebsco.com and ask about discounts for multiple people from your organization to learn together. It is the best way to take our class both in terms of the learning itself and the pricing. 

Whether or not you take the course, please go here and read "The State of Diversity in Publishing" via Book Riot. 

And if you have further questions you can always contact me.