Editing Public library (section)

===Diversity===
{{further|Diversity in librarianship}}
A significant goal of American libraries is to become more [[culturally diverse]] throughout the country.  Public libraries are an equal access facility and want to make everyone feel welcome no matter their religion, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, or financial status. To accomplish this goal, libraries are striving to find ways in which to make, staff, collections, and library programs they provide more [[culturally sensitive]].
 
A starting point for most libraries is to find out the [[demographics]] in which they are located.  Once the library system learns more about the community they serve, they can start building a collection and programs around it. Another suggestion from multiple experts says to hire staff that represents the society that the library is located in order to better relate and serve members of that society.

By performing a diversity audit on the items in a libraries collection staff can determine if the materials available offer a wide range of viewpoints and perspectives. The results of the audit can help inform purchasing decisions in the future, to assist staff in building a well rounded collection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jensen |first=Karen |title=Diversity Auditing 101: How to Evaluate Your Collection |url=https://www.slj.com/story/diversity-auditing-101-how-to-evaluate-collection |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=School Library Journal}}</ref>

By making culturally diverse programs, a library can be inviting to many members of the community.  A few ways libraries accomplish this goal are by providing programs which are inclusive to many different cultures such as having lectures or events in different languages, including celebrations and holidays that are diverse, and by inviting speakers and authors from different cultures to come and talk.  
<ref>Smallwood, C., & Becnel, K. (2013). Library services for multicultural patrons [electronic resource]: strategies to encourage library use/ edited by Carol Smallwood, Kim Becnel. Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press, 2013.</ref>