Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the multicultural reference series, this reading guide, and how to put both to work in a school, library, or home.
About the Collections
What exactly are the “reference library” series?
They are multi-volume hardcover reference sets — two to five volumes each — that present one community's American history through a consistent structure: historical narrative, biographical essays, primary documents, statistics, and bibliography. Nine series are profiled in our titles guide, covering African American, European immigrant, Hispanic, Native American, Arab American, and Jewish American history, plus famous American women and men and a scholarly Latino encyclopedia.
Why aren't the copyright dates current?
Because of the extensive nature of large reference works, sets like these are revised only every five to seven years — sometimes less frequently — so individual volumes carry older copyright dates. The histories they document do not expire; for events after a set's publication date, pair the volumes with current databases and primary-source archives such as the Library of Congress digital collections.
What reading level are the books?
The series target middle and high school readers. Elementary teachers and homeschooling families use them as a teacher's resource — excerpting chronologies, photographs, and biography essays for read-alouds and guided research.
Are the sets still in print?
Print runs of large reference sets come and go, but thousands of copies live on in school and public libraries. The reliable way to reach one is through a library catalog: search WorldCat by title or by the ISBN listed on each series profile, or ask your librarian about interlibrary loan.
About This Site
What is Diversity Books today?
An evergreen reading guide. The site began in 1990 as a small Hamilton, New Jersey distributor of multicultural reference books for schools and libraries; today it preserves and extends that work as a guide to the series themselves — what they contain, how they are organized, and how educators can use them. Our about page tells the full story.
Do you sell books?
No. This site no longer sells anything. It documents the collections and points readers to libraries, museums, and archives where the material can be found and used.
What was the “free online database”?
A companion biographical database of more than 3,200 entries that once accompanied the printed sets. Our research database page describes how it was organized and includes sample biographical sketches in its format — a format we still recommend teachers borrow for student writing.
For Educators
Where should a new multicultural curriculum start?
Start with the idea, then the materials. Our essays on cultural diversity and multicultural education lay out the case for year-round teaching; the lesson plans guide translates it into five classroom frameworks; and the complete collection overview shows how the reference shelf supports all of them.
How do heritage months fit in?
As launching points. February's Black History Month, March's Women's History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month in the fall, and November's Native American Heritage Month each give a unit its occasion — the reference sets and our lesson frameworks give it somewhere to go afterward.
Can you recommend free companion resources?
Yes — our resources directory curates national organizations, Smithsonian museums, and primary-source archives, each annotated with how it pairs with the printed series.
Anything Else?
If your question isn't answered here, or you've spotted something in the guide that needs correcting, please reach us through the contact form. We read everything.