My reaction is to not separate the collections to a different place. Now if the library does have genre fiction stickers I would consider adding a sticker to the books classified as Urban Fiction in our catalog in order to appease patrons who want to find these books easier in the collection. I feel this is fair because Urban Fiction is a recognized genre now the same as Westerns or Mystery.
I would not consider doing this with the LGBTQ ficiton. My reasoning is that separating the LGBTQ fiction into its own section could be considered a form of censorship. According to the ALA’s Access to Library Resources and Services Regardless of Sex, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, or Sexual Orientation this could be considered a form of censorship since these books are singled out and put away in a special section. Some other thoughts that come to mind are this is a vulnerable population subject to much discrimination. I feel separating these items into a “special section” is something that basically announces to the whole library when browsing “hey I’m curious about LGBTQ stuff look at me!” This could be daunting to a teen or young adult (or heck an older person too) who is trying to come to terms with their identity and/or sexuality.
This could also open people up to harassment if a “concerned citizen” decides to film everyone who goes to that section to browse. Recently more people are doing what are called First Amendment Audits in government owned buildings. This involves filming while inside the building, including filming employees or other customers. My manager recently sent out an email about it and we cannot tell them to stop filming, as this is against the patron’s First Amendment rights. Now if they are harassing people we of course can ask them to stop, but if a person is just quietly filming whoever goes to the LGBTQ section without comment they are completely within their rights to do so. This could make other patrons uncomfortable and unwilling to browse that section.
The final reasoning for not separating LGBTQ from the regular collection is I feel it would open those books to more challenges and attempts at censorship. Once people who are against those ideas know exactly where those books are and what they contain, it is much easier for them to file challenge after challenge with the library. Also, what exactly constitutes an LGBTQ book? Is it one that has a gay main character? Gay side character? Gay relationship? What if the main character is a therapist that works with the trans community, but otherwise the plot doesn’t contain anything else about LGBTQ people or ideas? We don’t separate romance based on how much sex it contains, or whether it contains an interracial relationship. This to me is the same principle.
Resources:http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/accesslgbt
I would not consider doing this with the LGBTQ ficiton. My reasoning is that separating the LGBTQ fiction into its own section could be considered a form of censorship. According to the ALA’s Access to Library Resources and Services Regardless of Sex, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, or Sexual Orientation this could be considered a form of censorship since these books are singled out and put away in a special section. Some other thoughts that come to mind are this is a vulnerable population subject to much discrimination. I feel separating these items into a “special section” is something that basically announces to the whole library when browsing “hey I’m curious about LGBTQ stuff look at me!” This could be daunting to a teen or young adult (or heck an older person too) who is trying to come to terms with their identity and/or sexuality.
This could also open people up to harassment if a “concerned citizen” decides to film everyone who goes to that section to browse. Recently more people are doing what are called First Amendment Audits in government owned buildings. This involves filming while inside the building, including filming employees or other customers. My manager recently sent out an email about it and we cannot tell them to stop filming, as this is against the patron’s First Amendment rights. Now if they are harassing people we of course can ask them to stop, but if a person is just quietly filming whoever goes to the LGBTQ section without comment they are completely within their rights to do so. This could make other patrons uncomfortable and unwilling to browse that section.
The final reasoning for not separating LGBTQ from the regular collection is I feel it would open those books to more challenges and attempts at censorship. Once people who are against those ideas know exactly where those books are and what they contain, it is much easier for them to file challenge after challenge with the library. Also, what exactly constitutes an LGBTQ book? Is it one that has a gay main character? Gay side character? Gay relationship? What if the main character is a therapist that works with the trans community, but otherwise the plot doesn’t contain anything else about LGBTQ people or ideas? We don’t separate romance based on how much sex it contains, or whether it contains an interracial relationship. This to me is the same principle.
Resources:http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/accesslgbt
First, I'm a little horrified at the First Amendment Audits you just described.
ReplyDeleteSecond, I like your discussion on what makes an LGBTQ book. I think it's also a great argument for saying that it isn't a genre, merely a label. Since it doesn't fall into a specific genre, then it really is hard to make an argument for separation.
One article I read talked about teens wanting more than just LGBTQ literature on "coming out" and I think the more libraries and librarians show the need for LGBTQ characters throughout literature the more will be written and be made available to all readers.
Ya trust me I was horrified when I got that email about them! All we can do I guess is continue to work like we have been and honestly I don't even know if I would be aware I was being recorded unless they were super obvious about it.
DeleteI too am hopeful that as more need is shown for diversity and LGBTQ characters the more common it will be in literature for both teens and adults and the more "mainstream" it will be considered to the public.
Like Meredith, I got the heebie jeebies reading about your email explaining the filming. I hope that issue doesn't come up to often for you! That can be a slippery slope! Well written and persuasive, great prompt response. Full points!
ReplyDelete