Digital Exhibits for Justice: Analyzing Public Library Digital Exhibits with Diversity and Social Justice Themes

Youngok Choi, Emma B. Hastings

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Public libraries are increasingly addressing issues of diversity and social justice through a variety of avenues, including digital exhibits. This study analyzed digital exhibits offered by large public libraries, identifying a total of 27 exhibits that had diversity and/or social justice themes from eight library systems. The exhibits covered a range of topics but tended to focus more on historical oppression or discrimination (81%) rather than on modern inequities (30%). The majority of exhibits (56%) demonstrated collaboration between libraries and the local community, but only 19% provided users with a mechanism for providing feedback. The study developed a framework for evaluating digital exhibits that can serve as a guide for public librarians seeking to curate digital exhibits involving diversity or social justice topics.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)622-649
Number of pages28
JournalPublic Library Quarterly
Volume42
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Keywords

  • Digital exhibits
  • collaboration
  • diversity
  • outreach
  • public libraries
  • social justice

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Library and Information Sciences

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