Every February we create displays in the library, for the UK’s LGBT+ History Month. One is in the main foyer, showing a range of texts and other resources from members of the LGBTQI+ community from subjects studied across the university. The other is one of my absolute favourites to create and it’s in the School Library on the first floor. This is our collection of books for children and young adults and it’s designed for those on education, childhood and youth courses to use in their studies and in practice, although anyone at all in the YSJ community is more than welcome to borrow from it. Representation in school library collections is vital in addressing marginalisation and inequalities in relation to people in the LGBTQI+ community and such inclusion can have long-term positive effects (Hudson-Sharp & Metcalf, 2016).
This year is different. Our library building closed and the country went into lockdown just as I took down the 2020 displays and, a year on, I am still unable to safely create and offer access to ‘physical’ ones. However, we have been building online lists of resources for a few years, and these are available. We also want to ensure you still have the opportunity to recommend books for the library collection. They can be from any subject, any topic, for any age group – if you think it helps better representation of LGBTQI+ authors or issues, we will buy it if we can.
So, please do take a look at our sources from across different subjects and, especially, our School Library collection. If you’d like to recommend a resource, you can do so via this Padlet.
And, until we can create displays again, here are some pictures from last year, including one of the younger members of the YSJ community enjoying one of the titles.
Library’s LGBTQI+ display
School Library display of children’s and young adults books from LGBTQI+ authors
School library LGBTQI+ display
School library LGBTQI+ display
School library LGBTQI+ display
Young child reading It’s Okay To Be Different book
Hudson-Sharp, N., & Metcalf, H. (2016). Inequality among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups in the UK: a review of evidence. National Institute of Economic and Social Research. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/539682/160719_REPORT_LGBT_evidence_review_NIESR_FINALPDF.pdf