Big and Small: Building Belonging

I think a lot about what it means to create a space where everyone feels welcome. If the notion of “feeling welcome” sounds kind of abstract, I remind myself that inclusion isn’t abstract at all. It’s specific and located in small moments that make those big foundational values of librarianship tangible. Small steps help build a practice, so here are some reflections on books and ideas that get me thinking about what it means to build a sense of belonging.

That feeling of being welcome and belonging is part of so many picture books. Examining belonging through storytime can spark a conversation about what fitting in (and not fitting in) means. Books like those pictured here and so many others rely on relatable themes to introduce big concepts. Everything from moving (Nieve en la Jungle/Snow in the Jungle, They’re So Flamboyant), exploring the city via bus with a trusted adult (Last Stop on Market Street), starting school and finding unexpected friendship (First Day of Unicorn School), and building a sense self (Oddbird) consider themes of identity, community, and belonging.

Welcoming programs and practices are inherently local. They may be established as a result of cooperation with community partnerships, led by staff backgrounds and training, impacted by access to assistive technologies, or built into specific activities like Sensory Storytimes.

Some welcoming practices are simply intentional actions that become routine. As an introvert (to the tips of my toes!), active listening is a little easier than making conversation, and I know that learning about the interests of our frequent library users is a big deal. Greetings make a difference. Small cues like looking up and smiling are a big deal. These small meaningful actions cost zero budget dollars while contributing to a big sense of belonging.

Beyond being part of ALSC’s core competencies, respect for diversity fosters belonging. And I want every young person to know the library belongs to them. Every conversation, program, display, book choice, promo, and bookmark provides an opportunity to communicate “You’re welcome! You belong here!” The big principles are solidified in many small moments. Ready for more ideas? Check out this recent ALSC blog on how belonging connects to equity and explore STEAM programming examples that promote equity and belonging!

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 I think a lot about what it means to create a space where everyone feels welcome. If the notion of “feeling welcome” sounds kind of abstract, I remind myself that inclusion isn’t abstract at all. It’s specific and located in small moments that make those big foundational values of librarianship tangible. Small steps help build a practice, so here are some reflections on books and ideas that get me thinking about what it means to build a sense of belonging. That feeling of being welcome and belonging is part of so many picture books. Examining belonging through storytime can spark a conversation about what fitting in (and not fitting in) means. Books like those pictured here and so many others rely on relatable themes to introduce big concepts. Everything from moving (Nieve en la Jungle/Snow in the Jungle, They’re So Flamboyant), exploring the city via bus with a trusted adult…
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