Diversity and Inclusion in Pop Lit Archives

Celebrating Black Excellence: Book List

During the month of February, we celebrate important members of the Black community who are responsible for shaping the history of the United States. It is important that we celebrate their excellence in all aspects. This month we are celebrating Black authors and highlighting lesser-known authors who wrote incredible books in addition to those who made history. Be sure to check them out!
*Several of the books chosen for this list are sourced from The Culture article, 12 Lesser Known Must Reads from Our Favorite Black Women Writers, which features art and entertainment by and for Black women.

New Arrivals to Pop Lit!!

In June 2020, the Popular Literature committee did an initial sweep of titles in the collection for books centered on conversations of race and racism in the United States. After that sweep we followed up by ordering more books to diversify and continue this conversation in the library and to offer ways for the patrons and employees in the library to continue to educate themselves in this area. Our hope is to continue an open and vulnerable conversation; to work together to be better to each other; and to have a welcome space at FSU for all of our visitors, students, faculty and staff who are black, indigenous, or people of color.

These new books were received September 28, 2020 and are currently in process and will be available for curbside pick up through this link here!
The original reading list and statement regarding anti-racism and the black lives matter movement at FSU Libraries can be found here.

A Reading List on Anti-Racism and the Black Lives Matter movement at FSU Libraries

At the FSU Libraries Popular Literature Committee, we want to fight for equity, inclusion, and to provide a safe space for our students and employees who are Black, Indigenous, and People Of Color (BIPOC) to come and be heard and respected.

We will not stand for racism at FSU Libraries and we are committed to providing a place to facilitate conversations and a space for learning about racism, inequality, and the struggle of BIPOC in America.

Below is a list of books currently available for students and employees of FSU at FSU Libraries through our curbside pickup (and some digitally) now. This list has been researched and cross examined with other lists from similar institutions, as well as a list published by Ibram X. Kendi who is a professor and the director of The Antiracist Research and Policy Center at American University.

While normally the Pop Lit committee only highlights the books we have in our Popular Literature collection, we felt it was important to provide the titles on this list including those from the general and electronic collections as well as Pop Lit. All of the titles below are linked to the FSU catalog for quick and easy access.

Furthermore the Pop Lit Committee will be allocating the remainder of our special funds to purchase more books on this topic to further provide resources for our students and staff so we can have a true open, honest, educated, and vulnerable conversation and work together to erase systematic racism and further the conversation outside of our walls, into our classrooms, homes, social groups and more. We stand with our BIPOC students and coworkers. We stand against inequality, police brutality, and racism. We will continue to the best of our ability to keep our entire FSU Libraries family safe and give everyone the chance to educate themselves and be better.

UPDATE: This selection of new orders of Popular Literature books on this topic can be found here

Celebrate Black History Month with Pop Lit

This year we hope you celebrate Black History Month with the Popular Literature Collection. Swing by the Pop Lit area on the first floor of Strozier near Starbucks and check out some stories of amazing Black Americans through our history and the memoirs and essays of influential individuals.
We also have a selection of novels written by black authors to check out. Below are just a few examples of what you can choose from!

Pop Lit Collection Adds 39 New Books Thanks to President’s 2018-2019 Diversity and Inclusion Mini-Grant

The Popular Literature Committee was honored to have received an F.S.U. President’s Diversity and Inclusion Mini-Grant for the second year in 2018-2019. We have finally received the last order of books to add to the Popular Literature collection that highlight or are written by and about people from diverse backgrounds and often underrepresented groups. We in the Pop Lit committee hope you will enjoy these works.

Newly added titles are shown below, and can be found in the Pop Lit section next to Starbucks on the first floor of Strozier Library.