Music Libraries and an Expanding Repertory: Suggested Strategies for Building Diverse Music Library Collections

Abstract

In recent years, academic institutions across the country have responded to an increased interest by our community in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Libraries are no exception; many music librarians are currently engaging with the vital task of diversifying their collections, which may have historically excluded a range of marginalized voices. The authors, who include early-career music librarians identifying as persons of color, share lived experiences and provide strategies for embarking on this collection development journey, in the hopes that others in similar situations—particularly other early-career librarians—can feel solidarity in this task and discover new methods and ideas for embarking on this crucial work. After an introduction and literature review, the article presents challenges, opportunities, and overarching questions and answers regarding various aspects of inclusive collection development.