I, like so many other kids, loved the library. I emerged from my weekly visits with a stack of books in my arms so tall it obscured my vision, and promptly devoured them all. Rinse and repeat.
Of all the books I read, just a few favorites stick out. But among the most impactful were books I found myself drawn to without knowing what I would find reflected within the pages. I still remember the books I read that featured protagonists whose journeys I resonated with, whose identities I would come to understand as my own. Even if I didn’t have the language for it at the time, it was vital to my adolescence and eventual adulthood to find myself represented and reflected back at me in the books I read. My sentiment is far from unique. For people of all ages, finding content that affirms and reflects their life experiences isn’t just beneficial in the moment—it cements the library’s role in their lives as a source of not just knowledge, but acceptance, curiosity, and inclusivity.
The diversity of a library’s collections is critical to serving its population as well as possible. Patrons’ needs are constantly shifting and changing, and librarians aim to keep their finger on the pulse of what people want and need to read. Per the Santa Cruz Public Library Collection Development Policy, the Library “strives to build and maintain a diverse, accessible collection that serves our community’s informational, educational, and entertainment needs.”
While stepping into your local branch and perusing its shelves may be easy, the work put into maintaining the diversity and inclusivity of the collection is one of continued, consistent effort.
“We are always working toward building a diverse collection,” said Sarah Harbison, manager of Collection Management Services. “It’s a project without a finish line. New titles are published continuously, and our community’s interests and needs are always evolving.”
This effort includes regular audits to evaluate the collection’s diversity. Recently, an audit by Ingram Collection Development placed SCPL in the 90th percentile of inclusivity among public libraries—with 20 percent inclusive items, compared to the public library average of 15 percent.
While this number is affirming and an achievement, it isn’t necessarily a surprise to those at the forefront of the work.
“This level of diversity and inclusivity is something that we have been working hard on,” Harbison said. “The Selection team looks to the community and makes data-driven decisions to build the library’s collection.”
Most recently, two members of the team traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico, to attend the Feria Internacional del Libro 2025, the “most outstanding meeting of the Spanish-language publishing world.” It’s the largest book fair in the Americas, and the second largest in the world. The fair served as an opportunity for Arturo Villasenor and Susan Nilsson to engage with Spanish-language books, and purchase new items for the collection. The international conference was not just a book sale; it was a cultural event that platforms hundreds of writers, hosting panels, lectures, and performances for both the public and professionals to attend.
Villasenor and Nilsson’s attendance was emblematic of the library’s intense commitment to the betterment and maintenance of a truly diverse collection; one that every Santa Cruzan can enjoy, learn from, and see themselves in.
Carolyn Mish holds a position at the Division of Undergraduate Education at UCSC as a Student Writer. She reports on events and community stories in order to highlight voices and perspectives.
Photos courtesy of Universidad de Guadalajara / Feria Internacional del Libro.