Ciszek, Matthew P., and Courtney L. Young. “Diversity Collection Assessment in Large Academic Libraries.” Collection Building 29, no. 4 (October 2010): 154–161.
Ciszek and Young’s article offers different methods to assess an academic library’s collections for diversity regardless of the collection’s size or the intent of the assessment, whether that goal is to address current gaps in collections or plan future acquisitions. Potential quantitative methods include comparing local library holdings to WorldCat holdings using Library of Congress subject headings, reviewing standard bibliographies of materials from marginalized communities, entering custom diversity codes into acquisition records at point of purchase, and evaluating circulation and use statistics. Qualitative methods include inviting a diversity subject specialist to assess the collection, creating a diversity statement for collections, obtaining stewardship letters that document how subject specialists select materials, conducting focus groups, and surveying or interviewing patrons. Cizek and Young underscore that academic librarians should proactively develop methods and metrics for measuring a collection’s diversity, and that increasing the diversity of collections should be central to all discussions on policies and procedures.