Barriers to Selecting Materials about Sexual and Gender Diversity

Nicole J. Hoback

Reference:

Greenblatt, E. (2010). Serving LGBTIQ library and archives users: Essays on

            outreach, service, collections and access. Jefferson, NC: McFarland &

            Company.

Summary:

In chapter four, "Barriers to Selecting Materials about Sexual and Gender Diversity," Greenblatt (2010) addresses the varying issues surrounding libraries when selecting materials for the LGBTIQ community. The issues and biases surrounding this community are discussed and how this can affect the selection process for resources. While Greenblatt discusses the issues, she also addresses the solutions, encouraging a change for library collection processes in order to serve all community members. According to Greenblatt, library selectors are just as likely to buy into stereotypes as anyone else. Continuing with the fact that libraries are a safe place for many within every community, library selectors should be the advocate for this community when selecting material, not allowing stereotypes or bias opinions of others to deflect the selection process. Many libraries rely on the Internet resources and interlibrary loan to provide resources to the LGBTIQ community and this is just not practical, Greenblatt states, arguing that the Internet is not always a reliable source and interlibrary loan cannot always be reliable or practical.

Evaluation:

I enjoyed reading Greenblatt’s analysis on changing the methods in which library employees provide for the LGBTIQ community. I particularly enjoyed how Greenblatt not only addressed the issues in collection development, but also the solutions to the issues and how to provide for minority groups in a modern age. Greenblatt stated an important point in this chapter when discussing that patrons who identify in the LGBTIQ community are not the only ones who would benefit from resources in the library, their friends and family would benefit as well if they are eager to learn more or have questions. Establishing a reliable source collection for any library will allows patrons of the LGBTIQ community to trust the library and gain reliable information.