Week 14 Prompt

What a tough topic this week, but one that seriously needs to be addressed. As for LGBTQ fiction, I think that it might be helpful – budget permitting – to perhaps cross-list and have multiple titles of copies to display in a special LGBTQ section. However, would this section incorporate adult and YA materials? If space, interest and budget allowed, I would also be interested in pursuing a dedicated space to highlight LGBTQ YA materials. I can see how frustrating it could be for someone to wander through the stacks or catalog looking for such materials with little information or knowledge! 

In “I Thought I’d Find Myself at the Library”: LGBTQ Services & Collections in Public and School Libraries, Alvin M. Schrader comments on the inadequate subject headings used when categorizing such fiction:

Headings that were used to reflect LGBTQ-related

Bisexuality -- Fiction

 Homosexuality -- Fiction

 Homosexuality -- Juvenile Fiction

 Lesbians -- Fiction

 Lesbians -- Juvenile Fiction

 Lesbianism -- Fiction

 Lesbianism -- Juvenile Fiction

 Gay teenagers -- Juvenile Fiction

 Gay men -- Fiction

 Gay Parents -- Fiction

 Gay youth -- New York (State) -- New York -- Fiction

Headings used that did not identify LGBTQ-related

Coming of Age -- Fiction

 Conduct of life -- Fiction

 Emotions -- Fiction

 Erotic Stories

 Friendship -- Fiction

 High Schools -- Fiction

 Identity -- Fiction

 Interpersonal relationships -- Fiction

 Love Stories

 Schools -- Juvenile Fiction

 Self-Realization -- Fiction

 Sex -- Fiction

 Teenage boys -- Fiction

 “It is apparent that the wide range of subject headings used in library records makes it difficult for interested persons to discover the breadth of LGBTQ-related materials available in their own library – thus impeding access for users browsing the catalogue by subject”(Schrader, 5). Perhaps highlighting this specific part of the collection for users could help to increase circulation statistics. Even having the LGBTQ heading as a search facet in the catalog could help users – particularly with eBooks. I remember an article from early last year about a library (The Bessie Chin Library) opening an LGBT section that also houses films and other resources, such as college guides, but it was aimed more for youth.(http://redwoodbark.org/2013/02/library-adds-new-gtsa-section/)

As for African American books, I would first want author and reader input before separating this genre into its own area. The author N.J. Jemisin has posted an interesting blog post on the subject titled “Don’t Put My Book in the African American Section!” (http://nkjemisin.com/2010/05/dont-put-my-book-in-the-african-american-section/)

I admire her for taking a stand and being so adamant on the issue: “I hate the “African American Fiction” section. HATE. IT. I hate that it exists. I hate that it was ever deemed necessary. I hate why it was deemed necessary, and I don’t agree that it is. I hated it as a reader, long before I ever got published. And now that I’m a writer, I don’t ever want to see my books there — unless a venue has multiple copies and they’re also in the Fantasy or General Fiction section.” She goes on to state that her book The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms shouldn’t be in the African American section ‘because it Contains No Actual Black People. Which should, IMO, at least be a prerequisite for being in that section.’

I like the idea of cross-listing multiple copies along with their genres and in a special section, but at what point does this become cost and space prohibitive?! If pressure from patrons or my library board resulted in my library pursuing an African American section, what would happen if we received a proposal for a Female Authors Section? In the end, I would honestly hope that a committee or group of staff members, along with input from the public and our patrons, would help guide us to a decision that was right for our community based on their wants and needs.