Information Needs of LGBTQ College Students

Abstract

Statistics have proven that LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, and Queer) people constitute a relevant part of every community in the United States. This situation is also reflected at American universities. Although most administrators try to be inclusive in the services designed and offered by the university and respective organizations and associations on campus, it has been revealed in former studies that information providers off and on campus are often not able to meet the special information needs of the LGBTQ community. The research proved the general assumption that LGBTQ students can still be considered a consumer group chronically underserved by university libraries. Using a focus group and individual interviews with lesbian, gay, and bisexual undergraduate college students at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro (UNCG), this research revealed several information gaps and barriers to information for LGBTQ students. Moreover, it became obvious that the information needs and the information seeking behavior of the interviewed LGBTQ college students are often ambivalent. On the one hand, there is a need for more accessibility and promotion of services, but, on the other hand, a strong desire for privacy and confidentiality exists, especially for younger students. The anxiety of possible disclosure and general library anxiety can turn into barriers to information for LGBTQ individuals. Although, phenomena like homophobia and heterosexism were not obvious at the UNCG campus, the enhancement of heterosexual privileges is still an issue for LGBTQ individuals, as they consider a lot of information as still being centered on the needs of the heterosexual majority. Basing on the research, the paper gives recommendations how information services for the LGBTQ community at UNCG could be improved using specialized displays, pathfinders, subject guides, specialized workshops, or interactive online tutorials. The paper also includes the description of a specific information product that was designed and developed for the LGBTQ community at UNCG based on the findings of the research.