Week Fourteen Prompt Response

As someone who works at a library who’s had LGBTQ+-related controversy fairly recently, there’s been a lot of opportunity to think these kinds of issues over. The main reasons I can see someone wanting to separate LGBTQ+ fiction are either bigotry or wanting to find these titles easier. As Urban Fiction is an actual genre, the reasoning behind their separation may have additional motivations, although the first two options could also fit. Separating either genre would be completely wrong for my library, though, and I would choose instead to keep the books interfiled and create reading lists for those who seek out Urban Fiction or LGBTQ+ titles.

The easiest reason behind my decision is that my library doesn’t separate by genre, so singling out Urban Fiction would both be an odd choice (as we don’t carry many titles) and have really problematic implications (why single this genre out?). Furthermore, LGBTQ+ fiction isn’t a genre (there’s LGBTQ+ fantasy, romance, literary fiction, etc., which would just be interfiled with their respective genres), so even in a genre-separated library there would be no reason to single it out that didn’t lend itself to bigotry. When the Orange City PL tried separating by genre, it led to a petition to separate and label LGBTQ+ fiction, which then led to demands to censor LGBTQ+ fiction.

Similarly (in the case of LGBTQ+ fiction), separating due to bigoted complaints opens the door for further appeasement, as we saw with the Orange City PL being met with demands to “seek public input” before acquiring LGBTQ+ titles. In this case, separating/labelling materials would be censorship and put the library in danger of further censorship. In fact, the ALA urges against labeling (especially on a level of moral judgement), saying in the Freedom to Read statement that “The ideal of labeling presupposes the existence of individuals or groups with wisdom to determine by authority what is good or bad for others. It presupposes that individuals must be directed in making up their minds about the ideas they examine. But Americans do not need others to do their thinking for them.”

School Library Journal noted the possibility of separating for curricula purposes, and going along that vein a library could hypothetically separate their collection based on appeal factors as well. However, as many titles would fit in multiple sub-categories (under either organizational method), keeping reading lists would create much more robust selections and minimize confusion.

              

Most importantly, School Library Journal pointed out that keeping separate sections for LGBTQ+ fiction or Urban fiction singles people out and others them. Designating that patrons go to a certain space begs the question (in their words), “Is [the library] their space, or are they just visiting?” In the same article, Melissa McBride said that patrons feel othered by having to go to a certain shelf to get what they want. When these designated shelves are segregated by identity (or perceived identity, as there’s also an ongoing problem of people confusing Urban Fiction with African American fiction overall), it turns people into “subjects.” Additionally, separate LGBTQ+ sections are not only othering, but they could potentially “out” closeted patrons who want to safely explore their identity or feel represented. This is especially dangerous for young people who may have bigoted caregivers and limited access to information about themselves.

                               

Overall, not separating titles but curating robust reading lists is a good way to make sure those who want to see themselves represented can find the right titles without the library lending itself to bigotry or censorship. Furthermore, these lists (if shared through bookmarks or “cheat sheets”) can also help patrons who may be too shy to ask find titles of interest on their own. Readers’ advisors should be making these lists to better interview results anyway, so this is the easiest (and most ethical) option.

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2018/03/21/library-change-lgbtq-content-grouping-change-orange-city-iowa/445970002/

https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=shelving-debate-separate-or-integrate

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/freedomreadstatement