LGBTQIA+ inclusive children's librarianship : policies, programs, and practices

by Lucy Santos Green

School and public librarians are serving ever greater numbers of LGBTQIA+ children and families. Transgender children may begin to express a strong sense of gender identity as early as 2–3 years of age. Children are also identifying as gay much sooner than earlier generations―often between the ages of 7 and 12. Additionally, more children than ever before are living with LGBTQIA+ caregivers. In seeking to make our programs and services inclusive and equitable for these growing populations, librarians may court controversy and face community backlash from patrons who feel queer-inclusive content is inappropriate for young children. This book codifies a set of best practices for librarians as they rise to this challenge, defining queer-inclusive programs, identifying potential barriers to implementation, and offering strategies and resources to overcome them.

152 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2022

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

School and public librarians are serving ever greater numbers of LGBTQIA+ children and families. Transgender children may begin to express a strong sense of gender identity as early as 2–3 years of age. Children are also identifying as gay much sooner than earlier generations―often between the ages of 7 and 12. Additionally, more children than ever before are living with LGBTQIA+ caregivers. In seeking to make our programs and services inclusive and equitable for these growing populations, librarians may court controversy and face community backlash from patrons who feel queer-inclusive content is inappropriate for young children. This book codifies a set of best practices for librarians as they rise to this challenge, defining queer-inclusive programs, identifying potential barriers to implementation, and offering strategies and resources to overcome them.

If you're one of the Libraries (like so many) facing censorship in your services, programs or collection due to LGBTQ+ content, let me tell you, you are definitely not alone.
Four lady librarians have put together a helpful guide to implement, strategize and share resources/programs with your library.
There are some good points in here including addressing censorship, intellectual freedom, being aware of mental health concerns for LGBTQ youth, what they call the Red/Yellow/Green Light approach to how to go about providing to this community.
HOWEVER,
as someone who has seen firsthand what happens when a Public Library tries to do LGBTQ programming for the Youth Demographic, I say, oh so this book is really only helpful for those in more liberal locations (and its true, it is).
Many of the points of addressing patron concerns, staff concerns, backlash from your administration or patrons are the most mild forms of opposition you may receive, so if you are wanting to implement these things, get ready for some serious backlash. Then again, it does depend on how you go about doing so.
Now, that's not to say that a library cannot implement certain things (book groups, online resources/databases, displays, collection items), its genuinely all about marketing and outreach.
I hope more libraries find success with this than I know others (not name dropping here) will.
So for those libraries that do offer LGBTQ+ programming for youth, HUGE props.
Those that do not, but want to, read this book, BUT then seek out further education and ask questions of those who know firsthand (not just LGBTQ+ organizations, but libraries who offer these programs as well).
As an openly gay library guy, I see the benefit and I wish/hope that these things can happen.

[Lemondrop Booktalks · Rating 4 out of 5]

~4.5

I really enjoyed this education read. It was short, pack full of information and views/ideas I had not considered and had an amazing section on additional resources and readings. I believe this is a great book for any educator that works with teens. It is library focused, mostly looking at library programming and library displays and making your library and ally for LGBTQIA+ communities, but a few things could cross over into elementary school classrooms.

The thing I love most about this book is the additional resources and reading. I am always looking for tools to use to educate myself, to help me plan programs, or buy books. I am also always on the hunt for website/reading/podcasts/chat rooms/community groups to tell teens about that reflect their identities. This book had so many great ones I cannot wait to check out or add to our library website.

Something I wish there was more of is intersectionality. Our identities do not live in a vacuum. There was support/discussion of intersectionality, but I simply wished there was more.

Also a few topics were not revolutionary. I suppose this is to help with a range of readers, but if you know a LOT about LGBTQIA+ resources and library programming/outreach/support, maybe this one won't be for you (or you can skim parts of it). I know I knew about 75% of what was in here so I still benefited greatly, but others might not.

I would say if you are a child educator, work in a library or community nonprofit space, or run LGBTQIA+ programs/clubs for kids/teens/parents of LGBTQIA+ identifying youth, give it a read. It is short and full of good information and resources.

[Melissa Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent resource for librarians and library workers. Read for my own professional development purposes.