Beyond a Rainbow Booklist: Serving LGBTQ Youth in Your Library
Co-sponsored by Upper Hudson Library System and Mohawk Valley Library System
August 28, 2014
Guilderland Public Library
9:00 am networking
9:30 am – 12:30 morning session
9:30 – 3:30 daylong session
LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, etc.) youth, like all young people, deserve a library environment that is safe, supportive, and welcoming. This collaborative workshop will provide ideas, strategies and suggested policies that will help us make our libraries places where LGBTQ youth and their families find helpful guides, information, and books that reflect their experience.
The morning session will be a presentation, while the afternoon will focus on booktalks of LGBTQ books for all ages and discussion of LGBTQ literature. Although the focus will be on serving youth, our presenters will provide solid information on vocabulary, terms of address, creating a welcoming environment, and general sensitivity. All staff are welcome and may expect to benefit from the morning workshop.
Morning Presenters
Kyle Lukoff is a children’s librarian in an independent school. He has facilitated and provided LGBTQ education for youth and adults in multiple venues, including publications like School Library Journal and at institutions like Columbia University and the Writing Trans Genres conference.
Jackson Radish has presented on trans young adult literature to librarians, teachers, and teens, and contributed a chapter on the subject to Oxford University Press’s Trans Bodies, Trans Selves. He is an editor and book reviewer with
a background as a teen librarian.
Afternoon:
The afternoon will be booktalks followed by book discussion groups. You are invited to volunteer to booktalk a non-discussion title. (We’ll provide a selection of book choices for you, and optional coaching. Please indicate on your registration form your interest.)
The booktalking will be followed by two simultaneous book discussions. Please do your very best to read all titles if you are attending one of the book discussions.
Book discussion Group 1: And Tango Makes There, Drama (Telgemeier). Totally Joe, Ask the Passengers
Book discussion Group 2: Jacob’s New Dress, Better Nate Than Ever, Openly Straight, The Miseducation of Cameron Post
For registration and more information check out the flyer.