CCBC-Net Archives
Re: Diversity/the Caldecott
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: Payne, Rachel <R.Payne_at_BrooklynPublicLibrary.org>
Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 09:19:22 -0400
What a fascinating discussion so far! I have also wondered about the diversity of artistic medium, genre, and subject represented on the Caldecott list. Some data collection in that arena would be interesting. Very little nonfiction is on the list. In terms of artistic media, photography has never been honored (although some mixed media using photos has been recognized). There also seem to be an inordinate number of books about snow within the list of winners (something to do with the deliberations being in January?). How many of the books have diverse characters represented?
Every year when the winners are announced, I am always fascinated when the lists of the major awards have such a variety of books. This leads me to think, that while the criteria guides a committee, the final decision is of course a subjective one. Committee members have discussed the merits of and questions about scores of books, but they can only choose to rank one book as number "one" on a weighted ballot. What are they going to choose? A book that is technically brilliant but does not speak to them? Or will they choose a book that is both artistically excellent and resonates with them at an emotional level? What speaks to a group of predominantly white women? I am a white woman who has been lucky enough to have been one among that number and I free admit my world view is limited due my background and experience. If I had a different life journey, I might have argued for and voted for different books.
For this to change, I think we need to diversify the committee and that means diversifying the profession and ALSC. I think we need to mentor and encourage a wider of variety of people to become active in ALSC. Those of us who are members need to spread the world about the professional satisfaction of becoming involved with this organizational and the honor of serving on an award committee. So much is gained when we hear from people that see things from a different perspective than our own.
Rachel Payne Brooklyn Public Library
Received on Thu 16 May 2013 09:19:22 AM CDT
Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 09:19:22 -0400
What a fascinating discussion so far! I have also wondered about the diversity of artistic medium, genre, and subject represented on the Caldecott list. Some data collection in that arena would be interesting. Very little nonfiction is on the list. In terms of artistic media, photography has never been honored (although some mixed media using photos has been recognized). There also seem to be an inordinate number of books about snow within the list of winners (something to do with the deliberations being in January?). How many of the books have diverse characters represented?
Every year when the winners are announced, I am always fascinated when the lists of the major awards have such a variety of books. This leads me to think, that while the criteria guides a committee, the final decision is of course a subjective one. Committee members have discussed the merits of and questions about scores of books, but they can only choose to rank one book as number "one" on a weighted ballot. What are they going to choose? A book that is technically brilliant but does not speak to them? Or will they choose a book that is both artistically excellent and resonates with them at an emotional level? What speaks to a group of predominantly white women? I am a white woman who has been lucky enough to have been one among that number and I free admit my world view is limited due my background and experience. If I had a different life journey, I might have argued for and voted for different books.
For this to change, I think we need to diversify the committee and that means diversifying the profession and ALSC. I think we need to mentor and encourage a wider of variety of people to become active in ALSC. Those of us who are members need to spread the world about the professional satisfaction of becoming involved with this organizational and the honor of serving on an award committee. So much is gained when we hear from people that see things from a different perspective than our own.
Rachel Payne Brooklyn Public Library
Received on Thu 16 May 2013 09:19:22 AM CDT
