I would like to talk to my fellow white Canadian library staffers about actionable things you can do during this moment in history and always.

(Aside from donating. Please donate.)

I'm going to focus on three things:
Collections, displays, and circulation.

COLLECTIONS:

The Canadian children's literature scene is very white.

While I support promoting Canadian authors (being a Canadian author myself), I think it's important to recognize that it often leads to the same white authors being featured over and over again.

Do you have Sarah Raughley's books in your collection? Sarah Everett? Nadia L. Hohn? Ben Philippe? Zetta Elliott? Jael Richardson?

When you have the opportunity to speak with Canadian publishers at conferences and events, be asking for more stories BY Black Canadians.

Purchasing books about Black people by white authors is not the same thing as purchasing stories by Black authors.

When you do the former, what you're doing is adding more stories to your collection that are filtered through a white lens. Seek out Black stories.

This is a discussion to have continuously with distributors and publishers. Make it known that you want to purchase books written by Black Canadian authors. Buy those books in multiples.

SPEAK WITH YOUR MONEY.

Follow Black authors on social media. Pay attention to when their books are releasing and make note of it. Check out what books they're reading.

Do the research to check out books released by Black authors ACROSS genres. Order mystery books and fantasy and sci-fi books.

My library's been very supportive with their budget. I research new releases for book requests. They buy what they can. We are working to update our children's collection. Always more to do, but it's a start.

It's a proactive thing to order beyond the same familiar names.

DISPLAYS:

You've ordered in books by Black authors. That's awesome. Now - DISPLAY them.

We all know that books that are faced out are more likely to be picked up by patrons. Every display on every topic should be inclusive. Know who is writing in what genres.

That YA fantasy display you're building?

Do you have Dhonielle Clayton's The Belles on there?
What about L.L. McKinney's Alice in Wonderland reimagining, A Blade So Black?
Or Sarah Raughley's 'Sailor Moon meets Pacific Rim' Effigies series?

That October spooky reads display you're starting?

Do you have Tracey Baptiste's The Jumbies series on there? Or Ronald L Smith's Gloom Town?

Doing a sports theme?

What about Kwame Alexander's Crossover series or Jason Reynolds's Track series?

Mysteries for kids? Have you put out The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson or The Last Last-Day-of-Summer by Lamar Giles?

Romance? Got any books by Rebekah Weatherspoon or Alyssa Cole on hand?

Every book display deserves a conscientious effort to be inclusive.

Are you always going to get it right? No.

But you can always strive to do better.

CIRCULATION:

You've ordered the books and you've put them on display, now you want them to circulate.

I know we all have 'To Be Read' piles that reach the ceiling. I'm always behind on the titles I want to read. But this is another area where you can make a difference.

When you order in books by Black authors - read them.

When you do your book talk with patrons (kids especially), be able to speak about your favourite parts or to tease plot twists rather than just reciting the back cover.

I know that some of you are reading the thread thinking, 'I know this, I do this.' That's great. Please keep doing it and talk to your colleagues about it.

Canada needs to have more everyday discussions about racism, whiteness, and the voices we promote.