Depictions of Diversity in Libraries in Children’s Literature – A Content Analysis

This study utilizes content analysis to identify how children’s picture books visually depict diversity in modern library settings, and if they propagate any negative messages about marginalized groups. Fifty-five picture books reviewed include those published in the United States between 2010-2020, set in a modern library and that include only human characters. Library user and librarian diversity are explored in terms of race, age, gender, and disability. This study is intended to inform librarians, educators, parents, authors, and book publishers on library-related book content that children (and others) consume, to enhance diversity in collection development and book use, and to inspire the filling of any book gaps in diversity identified. As books do depict the diversity of the library profession while still upholding the stereotype of a librarian as being a White, able-bodied adult woman, there is a need for books to encourage the continuous growth of racial, age, gender, and especially disability diversity of librarians through visual representation. Picture books set in the library no longer capture only White library users, typically including several Black, Indigenous or People of Color, but there is still great progress to be made in including more non-Black persons of color, as well as more adults, older adults, and users with disabilities. Books reviewed create a positive picture of the library and all its librarians and users.Master of Science in Library Scienc