Introduction: Diversity Discussions with Jayla from LadyBlueJayReads

Hello fellow librarians and young people advocates! I’m Jayla Parks, a book blogger and future (hopefully) youth services librarian! My journey to librarianship came out of nowhere really. As an undergraduate, I majored in Theater and received credits towards a minor in English. The two English classes that I absolutely loved were the Adolescent and Children’s Literature classes. During my time in college, I also worked at the school’s library and really enjoyed helping people find what they needed and being generally surrounded by books. Toward the end of my time at school, I expressed interest in working with children to one of the reference librarians. His response — “Why don’t you become a children’s librarian?” and I thought “Children’s librarian? That’s perfect!.”

So there you have it. My MLS will be in my hands in May and I couldn’t be more excited about the field I’ve chosen to work in! In the last year or so, I’ve become heavily involved in joining professional organization where there are wide ranges of topics discussed relating to librarianship and youth advocacy.  Now, I’d like to extend my reach to contribute to those discussions! Particular on the topic of diversity.

It’s no secret that diversity in libraries and literature is becoming a hot topic. People want to see more books that represent people just like them. And it’s not a strictly racial issue. Diversity topics include sexual orientation, physical disabilities, and mental disabilities. In the coming months, I hope to present you all with lists, discussions, and ideas that will not only supply diverse populations with the information they need, but also educate ourselves so we can provide tweens and teens alike with solid, colorful information.