A new study has illuminated some of the ways in which school librarians are helping LGBT youth: with books, safe spaces, and emotional support.
School librarians in two states, one southern and one northeastern, show “generally strong support for collecting LGBT materials” and often work to support LGBT students and counter bullying, according to “‘They Kind of Rely on the Library’: School Librarians Serving LGBT Students,” a study by Shannon M. Oltmann, assistant professor at the University of Kentucky School of Information Science.
The study appears in The Journal of Research on Libraries and Young Adults (the official research journal of the Young Adult Library Services Association, a division of the American Library Association). Oltmann drew her conclusions from 31 phone interviews with librarians: twenty-four from a southern state and seven from a northeastern state (both unspecified). Respondents came from two private high schools, two public middle schools, one middle/high school combination, and one elementary school.
The good news: “All thirty-one respondents felt that collecting LGBT materials was important and valuable.” One noted, “If I didn’t have those books, that would not be serving part of my population, and not only that, but I think all students should have access to books in that genre.”
The caveat: Oltmann notes that this is a small sample of the approximately 225 high school librarians in the southern state and 160 in the northeastern state, and “cannot be seen as representative of the broader population.” In particular, “Librarians who were ambivalent or negative about collecting LGBT resources are not represented here. Essentially, they declined to participate in the study.” Nevertheless, Oltmann’s study is valuable for what it shows about the ways in which supportive librarians are helping LGBT youth.
All of the respondents felt that “inclusion of LGBT books was appropriate.” Twelve, however, “indicated some hesitancy or reluctance when discussing collecting LGBT materials.” (Given some of the firestorms that LGBT books have caused in school libraries, I think that’s understandable, if unfortunate.) Some said they did not object to books with LGBT characters, but did not seek them out. Some expressed caution because of potential negative feedback from their administration or the wider community. On the positive side, however, “most respondents said that they believed their administration would support having such materials in the school library.”
School libraries also seem to play an important role in anti-bullying efforts. Some are explicit no-bullying zones, which “[do] not allow teasing, name-calling, or other negative behaviors.” Half of the respondents spoke of their libraries as a “safe space” or “safe place.” Respondents also said they worked against bullying by collecting specific materials, recommending them for certain students, and collaborating with guidance counselors and teachers.
Others spoke about even deeper relationships with students. One noted that in her library, “kids can come and get away from things and maybe process” whatever they are going through. Another said she tries to be “‘an advocate’ for the students, especially those who are socially awkward and spend time in the library.” One referred to her role as a “ministry,” providing not only books, but also “attention and life advice.” Many spoke of personal as well as professional reasons for maintaining an LGBT collection, such as having LGBT family members or close friends who had had difficult times in school.
Oltmann notes that in both the southern and northeastern states, the responses were very similar (which gives me some hope about our ability to combat what’s going on in North Carolina and Georgia). She says she does not know why librarians who are neutral or negative about LGBT materials did not participate, but offers this: “We may speculate that selecting LGBT materials carries some social and professional approval, and choosing to not have these items may have some negative stigma attached.”
That’s progress right there. Thanks to all the librarians who are helping to make that progress happen.
