Baker & Taylor reveals 'diversity analysis' tool for libraries

US-based book distribution service Baker & Taylor has announced it will be offering libraries a "diversity analysis tool" to help them discover, manage and report on diversity-related topics.

The tool will be available later this month for Baker & Taylor customers as part of their collectionHQ subscription, and for purchase by non-subscribers as a one-time, obligation-free consultation.

Amandeep Kochar, executive vice president and general manager of Baker & Taylor, said: “Healthy communities need access to inclusive library collections where people can find material that lets them see a reflection of themselves, offer a window to the world around them, and celebrate the differences that drive cultural, economic and social innovation. Yet creating and managing a collection that encompasses the wealth of human experiences can be complex and time consuming, which was our inspiration behind creating diversity analysis.”

The distributor said the new diversity analysis tool will analyse a library’s fiction and non-fiction collections against industry-accepted diversity topics, monitor the supply of diverse content to identify gaps at a system-wide and branch level and evaluate the representation of diverse populations in both print and digital collections. It will also communicate diversity in a library's collections to community stakeholders and suggest future development lists using a data-driven approach.