Diversity

I explored an online video streaming service, ’Kanopy’, whose children’s section offers films, shorts, tv series, and educational videos (Kanopy, n.d.a), and searched for multicultural content. There were more culturally diverse titles than expected, including a West African folktale short, a Nigerian cartoon series, a stop motion series about a Native American family, and multiple videos about Indigenous Australians (Kanopy, n.d.b). 

I was unaware of this service, yet Kanopy has partnered with over four thousand libraries and claims to be “one of the most popular resources at any given library” (Kanopy, n.d.c). Kanopy is free since libraries cover the costs; videos are ad-free with unlimited plays, and the collection caters to children and adults. Signing in only requires a public library card or university login, depending on whether the institution provides Kanopy.

Kanopy Kids’ collection aims to educate and entertain; the website even claims that its films “inspire empathy, critical thinking, and self-esteem in young viewers” (n.d.b). Kanopy Kids could be a valuable supplement to a library’s collection by providing children with First Nations and other culturally diverse stories which they may not have access to elsewhere or were previously uninterested in. 

Screenshot of Kanopy Kids website

Being exposed to diversity in media is one way for children to learn empathy and gain self-esteem; the former, by learning about other cultures, and the latter, by children seeing themselves and people like them represented onscreen.

According to Thomas (2016), without media that portrays diverse youth and their lives, children develop a restrictive ‘imagination gap’ that “affects the development of their imaginations” (p. 116). Bishop (2016) argues that children with underrepresented identities in the media “infer that they are undervalued in our society”, while those who experience the opposite “gain a false sense of their own importance, a sense that they are the privileged ‘norm’” (p. 120). 

While Kanopy Kids features some titles with Indigenous people and people of colour, there is a glaring lack of Asian and Middle Eastern content, and seemingly none relating to disabled or LGBT+ people. 

Browsing this website with a diversity-focused approach prompted a closer inspection at the types of digital media available to Australian children and how several minority groups are still underrepresented. 

Since media influences children’s perceptions about themselves and others, it should be diverse so that empathy and respect are promoted while low self-esteem, prejudice and biases are reduced (Southwest Human Development, 2021, paras. 2-4).

‘New media’ like streaming services are a fantastic way for libraries to engage with children who may be reluctant readers, come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds that cannot afford streaming fees (Campbell and Park, 2014, p. x), or who cannot access physical library branches (Kanopy, n.d.c). 

However, librarians need to ensure physical and digital collections have something to offer everyone. Kanopy Kids might teach Indigenous culture to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children, but what about Chinese, Jewish or Afghan culture? People with disabilities? Rainbow families? Librarians cannot be complacent but ensure their collections are diverse, relevant, and up-to-date.

Julia Freeman-Woolpert, 2007

Reference List

Bishop, R. S. (2016). A ride with Nana and CJ: Engagement, appreciation, and social action. Language Arts, 94(2), 120-123.

Campbell, J. C. & Dahlen, S. P. (2014). Diversity programming for digital youth: Promoting cultural competence in the children’s library. Libraries Unlimited.

Kanopy. (n.d.a). Kanopy. https://www.kanopy.com

Kanopy. (n.d.b). Kanopy Kids. https://lib.kanopy.com/#public-libraries

Kanopy. (n.d.c). Kanopy and your library: The perfect partnership. https://lib.kanopy.com/#public-libraries

Southwest Human Development. (2021). Diversity in children’s media provides representation and fosters compassion. https://www.swhd.org/diversity-in-childrens-media-provides-representation-and-fosters-compassion/

Thomas, E. E. (2016). Stories still matter: Rethinking the role of diverse children's literature today. Language Arts, 94(2), 112-119.