ERIC Number: EJ1238793
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 7
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1094-9046
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Going beyond Book Displays: Providing Safe Spaces for LGBTQ Youth
Gay-Milliken, Lisa; DiScala, Jeffrey
Knowledge Quest, v48 n3 p10, 12-17 Jan-Feb 2020
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 34 percent of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth have been bullied on school property (2017). The challenges are significant for LGBTQ youth with some stemming from local culture and community location. School librarians need to work hard to ensure that libraries in all communities are welcoming, safe spaces. Perhaps even more so in conservative regions where diversity may not be as celebrated or visible. Regardless of one's personal beliefs or the opinion of the school or district administration, and perhaps breaking with some of the cultural norms of the community, access to ideas and information in the school library is a civil right for all students. In addition to it being a civil right, it's also in the AASL "National School Library Standards" under the Shared Foundation of Include. This Shared Foundation emphasizes the idea that best practice for a school librarian is to ensure that displays and communications focus on resources that reflect a variety of viewpoints, cultures, and experiences. Many school librarians may not even be aware a problem of access exists for LGBTQ youth. The authors hope is that this article and the included ideas and resources will help school librarians create more safe places for LGBTQ youth.
Descriptors: LGBTQ People, Bullying, School Safety, At Risk Students, Social Bias, School Libraries, Library Role, Librarians, Educational Environment, Student Diversity, Access to Information, Library Services, Library Materials, Professional Development
American Association of School Librarians. Available from: American Library Association. 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611. Tel: 1-800-545-2433; Web site: http://knowledgequest.aasl.org/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A