East Vancouver parents launch book drive to diversify library collection

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Parents, a teacher-librarian, and an independent bookstore are working together on a diversity book drive so kids at an East Vancouver school will be able to see themselves, their families, and their cultures better reflected in the books on the shelves.

Meaghan McLeod is on the antiracism committee of the Hastings Elementary Parent Advisory Council. She says the first step was getting a list of suggested books from kids, parents, and teachers.

“We knew eventually we would want also to raise money. But the first part of it, we wanted to include everybody in the school in brainstorming different books that would represent our diverse community at Hastings, so we could improve the amount of representation we have in our school library, to make sure that all kids can kind of see themselves represented when they go and take books out,” she explains.

The list of books generated spoke volumes about how many stories are out there that may have otherwise gone unread.

“There actually was not any duplication. Like the first 100 books that were suggested they were each unique, but that’s kind of speaks to how, how much more we could diversify, just how many books are out there,” Mcleod explains, adding the list was cross-referenced with the library’s current collection.

#EastVan neighbours, our Hastings PAC is holding a book drive to get more diverse representation into our school library. You can donate at the awesome @IronDogBooks – ask about giving to our Hastings account or buy a book that our librarian has chosen @VSB39 @reddyforchange pic.twitter.com/QuhsiElWqr

— Meaghan McLeod (@meaghan_mcleod) April 29, 2021

When it comes to what kind of books the drive is trying to get into the library and into students’ hands, McLeod says there aren’t any limits or criteria.

“We want anything and everything that will just add to the feeling that when kids are going into the library, they can take out a book that will allow them to see themselves on the pages, or see their family represented or their culture,” she says.

“Whether that be adding to the amount of racial diversity that’s represented, cultural diversity. Of course, LGBTQ representation, reflecting the diversity of our school’s family units.

Diverse books can spark conversation, foster pride 

McLeod says she wants to see books that have characters her own daughter can relate to, or be inspired by.

“My daughter has an intellectual disability so I’m quite passionate about representing disability in the books we have,” she explains.

“To be able to potentially have my daughter bring home a book that’s about disability, about different abilities of kids — whether that be physical disabilities or intellectual disabilities — that would just be an opening for more conversation about her identity, who she is, and how there are lots of kids like her. She doesn’t necessarily have that experience going out into the community, of seeing other kids like her.”

The school has 600 students, all with different experiences and identities, all who could benefit from a more diverse and inclusive library collection, according to McLeod.

“I think of all the other kids in our school community who would benefit from that experience of sitting down and reading a book, whether on their own or with their family, and how that can spark conversation about identity and pride in who you are.”

McLeod says the school’s “awesome” teacher-librarian is also going through the existing book collection to make sure the books on the shelves don’t have outdated, offensive, or problematic content.

The PAC and the school’s teacher-librarian are ordering and purchasing new material from Iron Dog Books, an independent book store.

“One of the things I love about the Hasting-Sunrise neighbourhood is, we’re very community-minded, and we’ve got this amazing bookstore that’s Indigenous-owned that many of our families are quite familiar with and enjoy shopping at and know the business owners,” McLeod says.

“It was just a natural fit for us to be directing people there.”

The fundraising goal is $4,000, and the drive ends May 14.

“It might be ambitious, but we’re hoping that we can get there.”