Diversity Now: People, Collections and Services in Academic Libraries

Citation

Freeman, M. (2004), "Diversity Now: People, Collections and Services in Academic Libraries", New Library World, Vol. 105 No. 5/6, pp. 234-234. https://doi.org/10.1108/03074800410536694

Another interesting paperback from Haworth Press, this time dealing with a varied range of professional topics – recruitment and retention; collections; user education – all with a strong ethnic minority and cultural/gender emphasis.

Although dealing with the American dimension there are some useful ideas and information for British librarians as our own society becomes more diverse and “inclusion” becomes a major concern. Academic libraries need to reach out more widely and effectively to their Institution's ethnic minority students. It's not just ethnic minorities either. For instance, Mesdames Greer, Stephens and Coleman present an interesting article on “gender issues” within the library and the under‐representation of women at the top of a feminised profession; to quote: “Librarianship has become a refuge for educated women barred from entering other professions” seems a bit sweeping and harsh but maybe the American library milieu is tougher on women than ours is in this country. Joan Howland's paper on the challenges of working in a multi‐cultural environment is interesting and informative. The point she makes that in many parts of the USA non‐whites will soon outnumber whites in terms of number and consumption is well made and relevant and institutions (including libraries) ignore these relentless demographic facts to their peril.

All in all, a serious volume, well produced and indexed and providing some absorbing and pertinent reading for British academic and public librarians.