LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Children's Librarianship: Policies, Programs, and Practices

by Lucy Santos Green, Jenna Spiering, Vanessa Lynn Kitzie, Julia Erlanger, Anastasia M. Collins (Foreword by)

Overview

This book breaks new ground, offering school and public librarians serving children in grades K–8 a roadmap for implementing and upholding queer—inclusive programs, policies, and services.

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.

Resources for Additional Support

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440876776
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	05/16/2022
Pages:	152
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.45(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Lucy Santos Green, EdD, is Professor of Information Science at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.

Jenna Spiering, PhD, is Assistant Professor of Information Science at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.

Vanessa L. Kitzie is an Associate Professor in the School of Information Science and Affiliate Faculty in Women's and Gender Studies at the University of South Carolina, USA. She holds a PhD in Communication, Library, and Information Science from Rutgers University. She received the 2025 University of South Carolina Garnett Apple Award for Teaching Excellence and is co—author of LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Children's Librarianship: Queer–Positive Policies, Programs, and Practices with Lucy Santos Green, Jenna Spiering, and Julia Erlanger (2022).

Julia Erlanger, MSLIS, is a youth services librarian for Sacramento Public Library in Sacramento, CA, USA.

Table of Contents

Foreword Anastasia M. Collins, MLIS, MA ix

Acknowledgment xiii

Chapter 1 Why This Book Was Written 1

Why Library Services for Children 2

Why School and Public Libraries 2

Understanding the Terminology We Use 4

Intersectionality and How It Applies to LGBTQIA+ Children and Youth 7

Mental Health and How It Applies to Library Services for LGBTQIA+ Children and Youth 12

Who We Are and How We See the World (Our Positionality Statements) 13

Lucy 13

Jenna 15

Vanessa 16

Julia 17

References 18

Chapter 2 Policies and Procedures 23

Policies and Procedures on Professional Behavior and Language Use 23

Nondiscrimination Policies 24

Inclusive Language Procedures 25

Print and Communication Materials 26

Event Titles 27

Email Signatures and Name Badges 28

Verbal Interactions 29

Policies and Procedures on Professional Development 31

Professional Development Plans 31

Temporary Library Staff and Library Volunteers 32

School Administration and Library Trustees 32

Classroom Teachers and Professional Development 34

Public Library School Outreach 34

Self-Reflection 35

Policies and Procedures on Displays and Facilities 36

Displays 36

General/Behavior-Driven Displays 36

Curriculum-Driven Displays 36

Literacy-Driven Displays 37

Restrooms 38

Meeting Spaces 39

School Libraries 40

Patron Use of the Children's Area 40

Policies and Procedures in Digital Spaces 41

Digital Resources 41

Internet Filters and Access 42

School Libraries 43

Privacy 44

Patron Records 44

Public Libraries 45

School Libraries 45

Circulation Records 46

E-Books 48

Educational Technology 48

References 49

Chapter 3 Programming: Beyond Building the Collection 53

Storytimes 53

Representation 54

Discussions for Young Children 55

Queering Reading 55

Drag Storytimes 56

Reader's Advisory 58

Recommend LGBTQIA+ Books to All Patrons 59

Read Queer Books 59

Book Clubs 60

Instructional Partnerships and Collaborations 62

Co-Teaching for School Librarians 62

School and Public Library Partnerships 66

Makerspaces 67

Targeted Family Programming 70

Final Thoughts on Subverting Core Library Programming 73

References 74

Chapter 4 Overcoming Resistance and Personal Fear 79

Allies 80

How to Visibly Support LGBTQIA+ People and Communities 83

Invisibility 83

Intellectual Freedom 85

Reconsidering "Neutrality" 85

Censorship 85

Self-Censorship 86

Giving Up Your Comfort for LGBTQIA+ Kids 88

Hypervisibility 88

Protests and Pushback 90

Collections and Read-Alouds 90

Drag Storytimes 90

Book Displays 91

Author Visits 91

Preparing for Challenges 92

Book, Material, and Display Challenges 93

Program Challenges 94

The Call Is Coming From Inside the House: Lucy's Story 95

Pushing Your Practice Forward: Additional Strategies for LGBTQIA+ Inclusion 97

Other Considerations for Allyship: Coming Out and Identity Disclosure for LGBTQIA+ Librarians and Intersectionality 100

LGBTQIA+ Librarians 100

Coming Out and Identity Disclosure 100

Challenging the LGBTQIA+ Monolith: Intersectionality and Normativities 101

Strategies for Fostering LGBTQIA+ Inclusivity From an intersectional Standpoint 103

References 104

Chapter 5 Resources for Additional Support 109

Activities and Curriculum Support 109

Advocacy 111

Collection Development 112

Communities 115

Demographic and Statistical Portraits 115

Further Reading 117

Glossaries and Language Guides 118

Intersectionality 118

Legal Organizations 120

Mental Health 121

Policy Guides 122

Professional Development 123

Programming Guides 124

Social Media Packages and Resources 125

Youth Voices 128

Index 129

What People are Saying About This

Jennifer LaGarde

At a time when book challenges are at an all time high, and some states are even seeking to legislate the erasure of narratives that affirm queer identities specifically, LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Children’s Librarianship by Santos Green et al, is a potentially life saving resource. As the authors point out in the very first chapter, while visibility and acceptance of queer identities has increased greatly in the last few decades, this progress has been met with highly organized, “targeted pushback against attempts to include LGBTQIA+ youth and their stories in public spaces such as libraries and schools.” The erasure of queer stories and experiences from library shelves, displays and programming is particularly distressing when overlapped with the reality that “[a] large percentage of LGBTQIA+ youth report symptoms of anxiety and depression, including self-harming behaviors and suicidal ideation (thoughts of suicide).” In this context, it’s clear that librarians have a responsibility to create collections, spaces and programming that are both inclusive and affirming. Still, in today’s world, doing that work can feel difficult and even dangerous. With this in mind, Santos Green et al, not only acknowledge the personal and professional risk librarians sometimes face when advocating for their queer youth, they also provide resources and tips for overcoming resistance, personal discomfort and potentially confrontational challenges from community members. Indeed, rich with practical strategies for updating policies, procedures and programming LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Children’s Librarianship serves as a blueprint to meet this important moment. I can’t wait for librarians to have access to this empowering and essential book.

Cicely Lewis

This is required reading for librarians everywhere! This is relevant, important information. The library is the central hub of the school, and this is a guidebook to help ensure that it truly is. Go beyond the performative displays of allyship and use this book to go beyond decorations and get to the heart of issue. The helpful inclusive glossary of terms and student testimonies truly help capture the need for this book.

Editorial Reviews

At a time when book challenges are at an all time high, and some states are even seeking to legislate the erasure of narratives that affirm queer identities specifically, LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Children's Librarianship by Santos Green et al, is a potentially life saving resource. As the authors point out in the very first chapter, while visibility and acceptance of queer identities has increased greatly in the last few decades, this progress has been met with highly organized, "targeted pushback against attempts to include LGBTQIA+ youth and their stories in public spaces such as libraries and schools." The erasure of queer stories and experiences from library shelves, displays and programming is particularly distressing when overlapped with the reality that "[a] large percentage of LGBTQIA+ youth report symptoms of anxiety and depression, including self—harming behaviors and suicidal ideation (thoughts of suicide)." In this context, it's clear that librarians have a responsibility to create collections, spaces and programming that are both inclusive and affirming. Still, in today's world, doing that work can feel difficult and even dangerous. With this in mind, Santos Green et al, not only acknowledge the personal and professional risk librarians sometimes face when advocating for their queer youth, they also provide resources and tips for overcoming resistance, personal discomfort and potentially confrontational challenges from community members. Indeed, rich with practical strategies for updating policies, procedures and programming LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Children's Librarianship serves as a blueprint to meet this important moment. I can't wait for librarians to have access to this empowering and essential book.” —Jennifer LaGarde, Adjunct Professor, Rutgers University, Creator of librarygirl.net

“This is required reading for librarians everywhere! This is relevant, important information. The library is the central hub of the school, and this is a guidebook to help ensure that it truly is. Go beyond the performative displays of allyship and use this book to go beyond decorations and get to the heart of issue. The helpful inclusive glossary of terms and student testimonies truly help capture the need for this book.” —Cicely Lewis, School Librarian at Meadowcreek High School and Founder of Read Woke

From the Publisher