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Diversity Studies Collection The Library began development of its Diversity Studies Collection in 2003 to gather and preserve research materials on the minority groups of Plainfield. The collection scope includes published and unpublished resources on the history, culture and literature of African Americans, the Gay and Lesbian community, the Hispanic community and the Caribbean community. Resources include monographs, periodicals, folios, sheet music, and photographs. There are related materials available in our Local Clubs and Organization, Personal Papers & Manuscripts, and Fine Arts Collections. In Spring 2012, the article, "Diversity in Art" by Library Director Joe Da Rold, appeared in the quarterly issue of the New Jersey Library Association - History & Preservation Section’s newsletter, The Chronicle. This piece presents a focused look into the local African-American and Latino artists of Library’s Fine Arts Collection. In October 2009, the Plainfield Public Library received the Community Change Award from the New Jersey Black Issues Convention for the development of our Diversity Studies Collection. LGBT Collection Plainfield has been enriched by the presence and contributions of Gays and Lesbians. While many books are in the Library’s circulating collection, this special collection will include published studies of the LGBT community in New Jersey and classics of gay/lesbian literature that need to be available after they have gone out of print. Our Clubs and Organizations Collection offers some primary source materials from local groups, including: Plainfield Area Equality and Residents Supporting Victorian Plainfield (RSVP).
Irving Georges Photograph Collection
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In early 2007 the Plainfield Public Library was asked to host two days of oral-history interviews, conducted by StoryCorps. As part of StoryCorps’ Griot project, a Plainfield historian arranged to capture the stories of African-Americans in Union County. Our library received copies of the 17 Plainfield interviews, which it later transcribed through funding from a Union County History Grant. Listen to the interviews 
The cornerstone of the Diversity Studies Collection is the Barbara Polk Riley Collection of African American books. Mrs. Riley made the initial donation of her collection to the Plainfield Public Library in 2007. Since then there has been additional installments. The roots of this collection stem from Dr. Charles C. Polk, her father, who began collecting in the 1920s. The collection grew as his children gave him books on African-American subjects, expanding on his initial collection. Additions to the collection came from many sources including book stores and book clubs that specialized in black history, fiction and culture. The books were used throughout the years as reference material for family and friends taking courses, due to the scarcity of materials available elsewhere. The tradition was continued by his daughter Barbara, who became a librarian and worked in several historically black colleges. During her career, Polk Riley met many writers who helped shape the collection and inscribed books to the Polk family. The collection numbers over 3000 books on African-American history and culture. The collection includes hardcover and paperback, 1st editions and autographed editions.
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