More Than a Safe Space

Supporting the LGBTQ community in the library and beyond.

A passion shared by librarians is the belief that libraries should be welcoming, free, and open to all while providing equitable service to their communities. Among the communities libraries are committed to serving is the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) population, which is often referred to as “the invisible minority”. The perceived invisibility of the LGBTQ community is often rationalized by arguing that the LGBTQ population is small, and therefore not a portion of the community that requires attention to special interests and needs. 

However, according to UCLA’s Williams Institute, 4 percent of America’s population identifies as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. That is approximately thirteen million people—a minority far too large to ignore.

Fortunately, libraries are uniquely positioned to meet the needs of this population with dignity and respect. This paper highlights the ways libraries can acquire, provide, and promote the appropriate services and resources needed to support LGBTQ persons while providing safe spaces and effecting change in their broader communities.

Download the White Paper

Please complete this form to download the white paper, More Than a Safe Space: Supporting the LGBTQ Community in the Library and Beyond.