Inclusive Shelf Audit

Make sure everyone who walks through your door can find themselves on your shelf.

Many organizations, especially those that rely on donated books, end up with collections that reflect only some of the people they serve. Our Inclusive Shelf Audit gives your organization a clear, honest look at what's on your shelves right now, and a curated plan to fill the gaps, so every visitor, client, or patient finds a book that feels like it was chosen with them in mind. Great for nonprofits and community resource rooms, healthcare waiting rooms and family lounges, schools and after-school programs, senior centers and recovery programs, and any organization that wants every visitor to feel welcome.

How It Works

Tell Us About Your Space: a short intake so we understand who you serve and where the shelf lives, a waiting room, resource room, classroom, or lobby.

We Review Your Shelf: send us a list or photos of your current titles, or, for local Akron organizations, we can visit in person. We assess your collection for representation across race, ethnicity, LGBTQ+ identity, disability, religion, family structure, body size, and more.

You Get a Clear Plan: a written summary of what's working, what's missing, and a curated recommendation list, ready to fulfill through our Bulk Orders or Book Drives & Registries services.

Ways to Work With Us

Shelf Snapshot: a lighter-touch audit for a single small room or reading corner. Starting at $450

Full Shelf Audit: a comprehensive review and curated plan for larger rooms or multi-room collections. Starting at $1,500

Ongoing Partnership: after a full shelf audit, we can provide annual or biannual re-audits to keep your shelf current as your community and collection grow. Pricing available upon request

Ready to see what's on your shelves? Contact us to schedule an audit:

Email: september@rachelcargle.com
Response time: within 48 hours

Why Partner with Elizabeth's?

  • Own-Voices Curation – Our recommendations come from a bookstore built specifically around amplifying marginalized voices, not a generic diversity checklist.

  • A Judgment-Free Assessment – We're here to help you improve, not to shame a collection that got built one donation at a time.

  • A Plan, Not Just a Critique – Every audit ends in a concrete, ready-to-order title list, not a report that sits in a drawer.

  • Local & Independent – Every audit supports a Black-owned, woman-owned, and queer-owned small business right here in Akron.