Information Across the Spectrum Presents:LGBTQ Perspectives in LibrariesPanel: Chris Bulin, Kirsten Hansen, Jean Hardy, and Ashley Walker

Equal Opportunity Statements

● Does it include Sexual Orientation, Gender Expression, Gender Identity?

● Is it prominently displayed or made easily available to applicants?

● Does diversity training support this aspect of the EOE statement?

Employee Benefits

● How do you define spouse? Is it partner inclusive? (not just domestic partner but same-sex spouse)

● Are the requirements for dependent eligibility the same for same-sex spouses?

Employee Benefits Cont’d.

● Are benefits for same-sex spouses included in all benefits (bereavement, FMLA, life insurance, etc.)? or only health care?

● Transgender inclusive by World Professional Association for Transgender Health Standards of Care (WPATH SOC)

Transgender Support

● Do you have a policy describing organizational support for transitioning employees?

● Do you have gender neutral bathrooms available for employees and visitors/patrons/customers/members?

Employee Feedback

● Do you collect non-binary gender information on demographic surveys? (examples)

● What about an anonymous way to report sexual orientation?

● Do you have an LGBTQ focused committee or other employee group?

LBGTQ Young Adult Collections● Why LGBTQ literature for young adults?● An exciting time in LGBTQ YA books ● Resources for collection development

○ ALA GLBT Round Table ○ ALA Rainbow Books○ ALA Stonewall Award ○ Variety of blogs

Issues to Consider● Know your community● Clear collection policy AND procedure for challenged

books ● Once you have the books, don’t hide them!● Inclusivity is key● Collection development is just part of creating a

LGBTQ-friendly library.

Outreach

● Libraries as safe spaces● Narratives are an important part of identity formation● Facilitating access to unbiased information● Libraries can help overcome financial and social

limitations

Areas of Concern

● Privacy issues● Diversity within the LGBTQIA+ community● Censorship: internal and external

Advice for Libraries

● Staff education● Assess community needs● Make LGBTQIA+ materials more visible and accessible● Collection policies to protect LGBTQIA+ materials

What is an LGBT Community Library?

● Marsha P. Johnson Memorial Library at the University of Washington Q Center in Seattle

● Teri Rose Memorial Library at the Leather Archives & Museum in Chicago

● Jim Toy Library at the University of Michigan Spectrum Center

What can librarians do for LGBTCLs?● Queer & trans librarians?

○ If there isn’t a community library, consider starting one in a community space.

● All librarians?○ Respecting community spaces○ Fielding patrons○ Donating time/money/material

LGBT Community Libraries & Public Libraries● Taking on similar characteristics

○ As public libraries become specifically designed as community spaces, they gain similar characteristics to community libraries

● Tread lightly, resources matter.○ As libraries become community spaces, make sure that

you’re not accessing resources (especially monetarily), that community libraries would normally be needing.

Questions? Comments?

Resources

● Human Rights Campaign. (2013). Corporate Equality Index Survey. Retrieved from http://www.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/Corporate_Equlaity_Index_2013_Survey.pdf

● Human Rights Campaign. (2014). Collecting Transgender-Inclusive Gender Data in Workplace and Other Surveys. Retrieved from http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/collecting-transgender-inclusive-gender-data-in-workplace-and-other-surveys

● Rawson, Casey. (2011). “Are All Lists Created Equal? Diversity in Award-Winning and Bestselling Young Adult Fiction.” Journal of Research on Libraries and Young Adults (1),3

Retrieved from: http://www.yalsa.ala.org/jrlya/2011/06/are-all-lists-created-equal-diversity-in-award-winning-and-bestselling-young-adult-fiction/