THIS SESSION REQUIRED RESERVATION DURING REGISTRATION.

Much of the library discourse around equity, diversity, and inclusion focuses on human resources issues and user-centered services. Collections deserve just as much attention. Librarians and archivists must look at not only the what, that is, the content in our collections, but also the how: the processes and policies surrounding the entire life cycle of materials in their libraries and archives. During this panel discussion, representatives from three Ontario universities will discuss their strategies for promoting EDI throughout the collection development life cycle. The panelists will outline their approaches to relationship-building and community consultation for material selection, the complexities of formulating and implementing collection policies, and advocating for diverse collections within traditional, Western-focused disciplines. Additionally, they will address the collection assessment process, including data collection to evaluate progress and assess success in equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts, as well as public accountability for collection diversity and accessibility. The panelists will also explore challenges related to collection diversity, such as barriers to providing access to materials and resource constraints and will openly share both successes and setbacks in the pursuit of building accessible, inclusive, and diverse library and archive collections.