Deconstructing Christian Supremacy and Inviting the Orisha into the Library: Creating Diverse Religious Collections in Academic Libraries
Peer-Review Session | Tuesday, June 10th, 2025 | 3:00pm – 4:00pm EST
Within the United States and Europe, there is a growing interest in Pagan and Indigenous religious traditions. Individuals identifying with these religious traditions are expected to triple in the US in the coming decades. There is a risk to academic libraries of finding a mismatch within their collections and the interests of the communities they serve as these religious traditions grow. With this shift, there is an opportunity to learn from recent changes in collections development strategies and apply knowledge gained from libraries serving racial and ethnic communities. This presentation will impart data documenting the predicted demographic shifts; provide a basic understanding of some of these religious traditions; give a framework for approaching the challenges brought on by demographic shifts; and examine literature on the barriers to creating and serving these communities within library settings. An examination of the Pratt Institute’s collection was undertaken as a case study for exploring how Pagan and Indigenous collections are treated in an academic library setting and catalogue.
[This discussion will be recorded.]
Presenter: Saille Caia Murray
Saille Caia Murray (She/They) is a librarian (Pratt, MLIS 2025), and completed a master’s of urban studies (Fordham University 2019) with over a decade of political experience.
Their research explores the intersection of public space and democracy. They seek to cultivate a deeper understanding of how libraries contribute to civic diversity and community and serve as democratic infrastructure. The role that religion plays in public spaces such as libraries and how these spaces incorporate inclusion of diverse religious and spiritual interests is related to this research. As a librarian, they hope that by inviting these conversations they will create space for deeper community engagement, leading to a more holistic reference service experience.
Their passion for exploring and strengthening the role that libraries play in our broader democratic infrastructure has been realized in their own scholarship and practice. These passions for spiritual practice in public spaces are partially realized in their ongoing photography project “what I see when I walk.” In their free time, they enjoy hiking, crafting cocktails, practicing aikido, and embroidery.