Celebrating our library delight – ALSC Weblog

We have simply concluded our first main Delight month on the library! We have hung up e book shows for years, however this 12 months we actually wished to program and extra. I posted some assets final month, however here is how we approached our first Delight month.

Going through self-censorship

My apologies. This was step one, however I do not need to begin with this half. Let’s simply transfer it to the top of this submit and begin with one thing enjoyable.

What library Delight packages have we provided?

Rainbows! Rainbows on all the things! No, we have accomplished greater than that.

We held LGBTQ+ household themes at each our places.

For teenagers, we confirmed Love, Simon and embellished cupcakes and gave away copies of the e book.

We included a rainbow bracelet craft in our Summer season Studying kickoff. Our native Delight pageant was that afternoon and night, so it was good to have households make one thing to put on to Delight later that day. We have strategically positioned this exercise close to our giant Delight flag show in order that households could make bracelets to match totally different flags in the event that they need to.

Our mature programmers additionally participated. We began our month-to-month story slam with tales of LGBTQ+ delight. Two of our e book teams selected LGBTQ+ titles for June. (Really, our Studying the Rainbow e book group meets month-to-month all year long.)

What about self-directed programming?

Our employees has put collectively an incredible exhibit that includes over a dozen totally different delight flags. They include details about totally different LGBTQ+ identities, the historical past of the flags and what the colours and symbols symbolize. I noticed so many purchasers taking a look at this display screen and having conversations. (Do you know there are various totally different delight flags for various LGBTQ+ identities? If the rainbow is the one one you acknowledge, Google may help you with that!)

In fact we had e book shows in all areas of the library. The employees additionally put collectively a slideshow profile of influential LGBTQ+ individuals and occasions in LGBTQ+ historical past that we added to the grownup e book show. A digital picture body confirmed the slides, advancing each 15 seconds.

And what in regards to the vary?

Sure! Our library had a sales space at our native Delight pageant for the primary time. We reached out to a neighboring library and had cubicles facet by facet because the pageant encompassed each of our communities. We handed out buttons and stickers with our library brand on totally different colours of delight flags. Individuals went loopy for the buttons and stickers, a lot of them searched and had been so grateful to have their identities displayed. We distributed free queer-themed image books to the primary 70 individuals. In fact, we additionally promoted our library of Delight programming and LGBTQ+ books in our assortment.

Oh cats, you should be drained. However what’s subsequent?

Delight would not cease in June† You will need to rejoice Delight in June. It could be much more essential to supply LGBTQ+ packages and shows in different months. It reveals we assist our LGBTQ+ households when it is not trending. And a lot is occurring in June that your LGBTQ+ households could be exhausted and overbooked. So let’s preserve the celebration going! Your queer group would not cease being queer in July.

Happily, we began this entire journey with an enormous brainstorming assembly. Earlier than planning our first program or show, we got here up with an enormous listing of concepts. I compiled them right into a Google doc and now we have now concepts prepared for year-round programming.

When you’re simply beginning out, October is LGBTQ+ historical past month, so now’s the time to brainstorm for that!

I do know that one of many objectives of our library is to consider methods to include LGBTQ+ assist into pre-existing packages. I am already interested by actions to honor and get to know black LGBTQ+ activists for our Juneteenth pageant subsequent 12 months.

I might additionally like to seek out extra methods to succeed in out to our group and incorporate their enter into the packages we provide.

Going through Self-Censorship (Okay, Let’s Speak About It Now)

I can be actual. We’re in Indiana. We had respectable considerations about how a few of our group members would react if Delight was noticed within the library. Communities very near us have confronted months of challenges and hateful protests which have been traumatic for workers and clients alike. But when we let the worry of that response cease us from even attempting, we’re censoring ourselves. Do not let self-censorship get in the way in which of doing good to your group.

We did put together employees in case that they had complaints. We additionally introduced in a number who spoke about LGBTQ+ inclusiveness at a employees assembly.

This submit helps the next ALSC core competencies: I. Dedication to Shopper Group, III. Programming Expertise, V. Outreach and Advocacy†