Provision of LGBT materials for children and young people in UK public and secondary school libraries

Liz Chapman, Enfield Libraries

This paper reports the findings of research carried out for two MA dissertations at the University of Sheffield. The studies addressed, respectively, provision of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans) resources in secondary school libraries; and provision of LGBT fiction to children and young people in public libraries. Both studies used mixed-method approaches to investigate levels of provision, as well as staff attitudes to this provision. The study on public libraries additionally contrasted library employees’ opinions with those of LGBT parents and young LGBT individuals.

The data from both projects showed that, while respondents generally held positive attitudes to LGBT materials, actual stock provision could be improved. It is suggested that librarians may be guilty of 'censorship by omission' due to lack of awareness and over-reliance on mainstream suppliers.

The research highlighted certain topics which continue to provoke debate and anxiety among library staff. These include material with sexual content; age restrictions; location of materials; active promotion of materials; Internet filtering; the possibility of complaint and the impact of the ethos of the school. The paper will discuss these areas in detail and review them in the light of legislation and professional guidelines.

Finally, the paper offers some recommendations for both school and public librarians, as well as for the wider professional and research communities.