Public Library Programming for Gay and Lesbian Users

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Public Library Programming for Gay and Lesbian
Users

• James Lovitt
• Libr 544D
• November 20, 2002

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A Few Definitions

• Gay 1st Addicted to social pleasures and
  dissipations. 2nd Of a person homosexual. Of a
  place frequented by homosexuals.
• Lesbian 1st After the alleged practice of
  Sappho, the poetess of Lesbos. 2nd Of a woman
  homosexual, characterized by a sexual interest in
  other women. Also, of or pertaining to homosexual
  relations between women.
• Homosexual Involving, related to, or
  characterized by a sexual propensity for ones
  own sex of or involving sexual activity with a
  member of ones own sex, or between individuals
  of the same sex.
• LGTB This stands for Lesbian, Gay, Trans-sexual,
  
• bi-sexual.

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8 Myths and Misassumptions by Librarians

• Librarians handle all library materials,
  including those dealing with sexual orientation,
  equally and neutrally.
• None of those kind of people live around here,
  or at least they stay away from the library.
• The librarys books about AIDS adequately
  addresses the information needs of its LGTB
  patrons.
• Buying library materials for LGTB library users
  endorses the way these people live.
• Special booklists or indices are to be avoided
  because LGTB people can use the catalog and
  periodical indices like anyone else.
• It is difficult to find reviews of materials for
  LGTB people, and the materials themselves require
  ordering from special vendors.
• People who want to use LGTB-related library
  materials can use interlibrary loan to obtain
  them.
• Young people are not searching for LGTB materials.

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Some Startling Truths

• More modern estimates of the approximate number
  of gay and lesbian people in any given population
  are closer to 10 than the .5-5 I list in my
  profile.
• The first place that most men and women turn when
  they are looking for information during the
  process of their coming out is the public
  library.
• In 1972 the entries LOC listed under
  Homosexuality were Crime see offenses Sex
  see sexual disorders. It took until 1987 for the
  term Gay to be exchanged for Homosexual.

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10 Suggestions for Improving Library Services to
Gays and Lesbians

• Use appropriate review tools when selecting LGTB
  materials.
• Select a wide variety of LGTB materials in a wide
  variety of formats.
• And, acquire resources in different languages in
  if you can find them.
• Create and provide easily accessible LGTB
  book/reading lists.
• Create and implement detailed catalog records of
  LGTB material.
• Provide meeting space for LGTB groups and events.
• Provide display space for LGTB exhibits.
• Provide outreach services to LGTB groups.
• Provide a community bulletin board for LGTB
  activities and events.
• Sponsor/host sensitivity training workshops for
  staff and volunteers.

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Problems with Library Service to LGTB Patrons

• Societal expectations and heterosexism.
• Fear of unwanted attention or questions.
• The need for unbiased attention in all collection
  areas.

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What are the prime needs of Gay and Lesbian
Patrons Part 1.

• To be treated equally, and to have their needs
  considered without self-censorship by the
  librarian.
• Material on coming out and where to find other
  resources.
• A balanced collection will include
• Gay politics since 1969.
• Biographies of gay people.
• Descriptions of gay and lesbian lifestyles
  written by gay men and lesbians, and of such
  lifestyles written for heterosexual readers.

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What are the prime needs of Gay and Lesbian
Patrons Part 2.

• Personal narratives written by gay people
  struggling against homophobic attitudes.
• Imaginative literature, both serious and popular.
• I would add the following items to the list.
• An equal balance of materials aimed separately at
  gays, as well as lesbians.
• Coming out material that focuses separately on
  gays and lesbians.
• A list of groups and resources for people who are
  coming out to help them find and meet other
  people who can assist them.

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A Program

• Coming Out
• For Adults of All Ages and Background

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What Will Be Offered

• A one day event running from 10-12am and 1-3pm
  with a break for lunch.
• During the morning people from the LGTB community
  will speak about the pressures, problems and
  obstacles they have overcome.
• Speakers from different ethnic groups will also
  be invited to make up part of the list of
  speakers and presenters.

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What Will Be Offered 2.

• During the afternoon there will be two groups
  formed for men and women and their speakers to
  speak separately.
• The guests will have the opportunity to ask
  embarrassing questions that they might not have
  asked in a mixed group.
• Guests from Asian and Middle-Eastern minorities
  can meet and talk with people from their own
  ethnic groups for specific questions.

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Why Will This Program Be Offered?

• Young adults often turn to the library initially
  when they are searching for material on helping
  them to define their sexual orientation.
• This program will address a vital need for these
  people, and gives them the help and experience of
  people who will be able to share their knowledge
  and experience at a crucial time.
• There is an added difficulty for people from
  Asian and Middle-Eastern backgrounds, and this
  program will give them valuable experience.
• Language barriers can also be possibly breached
  with the specific people chosen for the speakers
  groups.
• LGTB newcomers need to ask questions, and to know
  what to expect. This program addresses these
  problems.
• Provides LGTB people an opportunity to see what
  the library does have for them, and to know that
  the library is there for them.

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Where and When Will this Program Be Offered?

• This program will be offered in one central
  library meeting room in the morning, and in
  possibly several rooms for the afternoon.
• This program will be offered around the same time
  as the Pride festival in June.
• It will be offered on a Saturday or a Sunday in
  order to accommodate people who work during the
  week.
• (If there is a high interest there could be
  additional repeats of the same program in the
  fall or winter.)

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Who Will Speak at the Program?

• Saalamat (LGTB Muslims), the Long Yang Club or
  Veri-Asian, and speakers from ALOV (Asian
  Lesbians of Vancouver) will be invited to make up
  part of the panel of speakers.
• A speaker from Xtra! West will be invited to
  speak about the resources that can be found in
  their newspaper.
• Long time members of the LGTB community will be
  invited to speak about issues concerned in
  coming out, as well as meeting other people and
  additional concerns like AIDS.

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Publicity

• Displays and pamphlets can be put out in the
  month or two leading up to Pride week in order to
  advertise this program.
• Pamphlets can also be placed in other libraries
  and in other community centres and libraries in
  the lower mainland to advertise the program.
• The advertising can be printed in several scripts
  like Chinese, Japanese, and Farsi to catch the
  attention of multi-cultural people from different
  backgrounds.

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Questions?