From book bans to laws restricting speech, education, and even public existence around gender and identity, there is a political assault on LGBTQIA+ rights across the country, and libraries are often in the center of the conversation.
Now more than ever, libraries must support their queer patrons, and teen patrons are a particularly vulnerable population. In this webinar, the presenters will provide you with specific strategies you can use to support LGBTQIA+ youth within your library or in partnership with community organizations. We’ll discuss how you can ensure queer representation in your collection, how you can work interpersonally to support your queer patrons, and best practices you can use support the LGBTQIA+ community through collaborative partnerships.
After participating in this event, you will:
- Be able to describe the impact that marginalization has on the well-being of LGBTQIA+ youth and make a case for increased support to management, administration, and other stakeholders
- Be aware of several LGBTQIA+ books for elementary, middle, and/or high schoolers as well as resources for finding more
- Know several online or community resources available for LGBTQIA+ youth and have strategies for identifying others
- Understand the landscape behind the push for censorship and book banning and be aware of resources you can use to deal with a challenge in your library
Erin Snell (she/her/hers or they/them/theirs) received an MSLS from Clarion University
of Pennsylvania. She has been working with youth in various settings for 20+
years. Currently, she is a Library Associate II in Carroll County Public
Library. She is very involved in her local PFLAG chapter. Erin lives in
Westminster, Maryland with her wife and children.
TJ Finecey (he/him/his) is a Library Associate at Carroll County Public Library. He
focuses on teen outreach and specializes in LGBTQIA+ programming. He recently
graduated from the University of Baltimore. TJ lives in Westminster, Maryland
with his husband, and can usually be found reading, podcasting, and talking
about Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Joy Fisher (she/her/hers) is the current president of her local PFLAG chapter, where she's served in leadership positions for 12+ years. She led the development and organization of a PFLAG-supported center that serves the LGBTQIA+ community, especially youth, children, and their families. She lives with her wife and children in Westminster, Maryland.
If you have questions or requests regarding accessibility, contact us at ce@ala.org or at 312-280-5100.
