In February 2022, Katie Retterath Martin, CEO & Founder of OneShelf, conducted a reader survey to better understand how readers find and access books that represent their intersectional identities. Of the 145 readers that participated, 20% felt they either could not find books that represented their identities, or the depictions of the characters in the books they did find were inaccurate. Additionally, 75% of participants said reading about characters that share their identities was a high priority for them when selecting a new book. The concerns of these readers shed light on major gaps related to availability and discoverability in the book industry as a whole, but librarians and information professionals have a key role to play. This session will cover the important distinction between availability and discoverability in libraries, as well as the difference between accessible information and accessible resources. Attendees will leave the session understanding how readers search for books based on the terms they use to identify themselves, what identities are still underrepresented in the book industry, and what actionable changes they can make to ensure both information and resources are accessible for their patrons.
Learning Objectives:
Describe how readers search for books based on the terms they use to identify themselves.
List which identities are still underrepresented in the book industry.
Implement actionable changes to ensure both information and resources are accessible for their patrons.
