The issue of shelving GLBTQ books and even Urban fiction books has come under great debate. What I find interesting is that for those that support shelving them separate want them shelved separate for different reason. I understand that some parents want to provide consent before youth can access the books, I understand that some want them in a separate group so that they are easy to find or so they can be highlighted as a feature in the library. However I think integrating them into the collections best serves majority of patrons.
If I was in charge of collections management I would shelve them with the rest of the library collection, by author's last name. I feel that unless the rest of the collection is separated by Western, Fantasy, Romance etc than these two sub-genres shouldn't be separated. One reason being that while it makes them easy to find for those that might need/want to identify with a theme or character, it may also make it more uncomfortable for many of those readers to go to a special section. Therefore really missing connecting the patrons with the books. As a parent I understand the difficulties between respecting parents and providing access to all. However as a librarian we must remember our duty to uphold the Library Bill of Rights and in the ALA's statement and policy on schools and minors rights the interpretation is as follows, "Library policies and procedures that effectively deny minors equal and equitable access to all library resources available to other users violate the Library Bill of Rights. The American Library Association opposes all attempts to restrict access to library services, materials, and facilities based on the age of library users." For youth and adults we need to make all materials available to all in a non judgemental environment.
By labeling a book as GLBTQ or Urban when other books are not we also miss the patrons that might browse shelves and pick up something new. I believe that there is value in exposing other patrons to all varieties of books and labeling them may encourage others to avoid them. I think Kim Parker makes a good statement in Yorio and Ishizuka's article:
“I wonder why they can’t be in both places?” Parker says. “If we’re segregating in libraries, we’re saying you can be here, but you can’t be there.”A third reason for integrating books is that it removes the pressure from librarian determining what is GLBTQ or Urban vs Romance, or Fantasy, Mystery etc. Leaving it up to individuals to determine if a romance novel that has a gay main character is still a romance novel or an GBLTQ book can cause confusion for staff and for patrons. While these books might be highlighted in a display during celebrations just as horror books at halloween or romance at valentine they should be treated as any other book would be in the library, just as any patron should be. All welcome and all a part of our literary world.
Young people use libraries differently than adults, she adds, and librarians must figure out where to get the “most bang for the buck.”
I think that means putting [diverse books] everywhere,” says Parker. “Maybe that’s text pairing, maybe it’s thinking differently how we shelve books, but access needs to change.”
Ishizuka, K. & Yorio, K. (Oct. 26, 2018). Shelving debate: To separate or integrate. School Library Journal. Retrieved April 22, 2020 from https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=shelving-debate-separate-or-integrate
American Association of Libraries. (2019). ALA statements and policies on access. Retrieved on April 22, 2020 from http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/access
This prompt falls into the category again of "let the reader decide." So many of the questions we've had (not only in this class, but others as well) I feel are answered by being able to say, "If you don't like it, don't read it. If you don't want your kids to read it, don't let them read it." There is so much personal responsibility sloughed off onto others (librarians included) that it seems a shock to some people to be told to make up their own minds about a subject. I agree with what you've said about integrating all materials into one fiction section and letting the readers sort it out, but I also like libraries that have separate sections for genres (and sci-fi and fantasy should be kept apart) so I can browse just those genres I feel like reading. The problem is these "genres" this week don't seem like actual genres and are hard to categorize. In this case, if I were having to shelve them in a library with genre areas, I would just put them in general fiction and let it be.
ReplyDeleteHowever I think if a library is going to sort by genre then it needs to sort my genre and are these sub genre and where do you draw the line. I like that all the fiction are together, not sorted by genre because sometimes a general wandering of the books leads a patron to something new. If they were sorted by genre I would almost be certain to never pick up a fantasy or science fiction because those aren't generally on my rader.
DeleteDon- you make an interesting point about that personal responsibility piece of this. I think people are so ready to be offended in some cases, that they find offenses anywhere- and this is especially the case in the "genres" or as I have been thinking about this week's books- the themes that might come across as containing "questionable" material. Generally speaking I agree that books with LGBTQIA+ characters are simply fiction books, but why is Science Fiction or Mystery special? They're fiction books too. Librarians have to decide what sorts of things their patrons care about and tailor their displays of the collections to those patrons. I would hope that patrons would be open-minded however the library was structured, but that is hard to say.
DeleteGreat point about labeling preventing patrons from trying something new! I'm really guilty of judging books by their cover, and I can't tell you how many great titles I've probably missed by skipping the "mystery" or "science fiction" sections on the way to general fiction. I totally agree that interfiling everything as general fiction is the best option- and I also said in my own post that genres, subgenres, and specific topics can easily be collected in reading lists for those looking for specifics. Great post- I loved reading your thoughts on this!
ReplyDeleteWonderful discussion on the topic! I totally agree that integrating GLBTQ and Urban Fiction with the rest of the collection makes patrons who want books from these genres feel comfortable browsing for them. The excerpt you included from from Ishizuka & Yorio was interesting, too. I would like to conduct a survey/questionnaire asking patrons if they would like GLBTQ and Urban Fiction books to have spine labels, whether that would help seekers of those genres be able to find them easier. I love fantasy books, and spotting out the fantasy spine labels helps me as well as those who decidedly don't want to read fantasy.
ReplyDeleteYou make three excellent points! Wonderful arguments, great quote and fantastic write up. Full points!
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