No More Controversial than a Gardening Display?: Provision of LGBT-Related Fiction to Children and Young People in U.K. Public Libraries

Abstract

This article reports the findings of a study on the provision of LGBT-related fiction to children and young people in U.K. public libraries and on library staff attitudes to this material. The term “LGBT” stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans, with “trans” being an umbrella term used to encompass transgender and transsexual people, cross-dressers, and other gender-variant people. The research used a mixed-methods approach, comprising a checklist study, in which a list of books was checked against the catalogs of two participating library authorities; staff focus groups in these authorities; and a questionnaire distributed nationwide via professional listservs. Opinions were also gathered from young LGBT people and LGBT parents through focus groups and interviews. The research showed clear room for improvement in provision in the two authorities studied, particularly as regard to picture books, books with trans content, books in different formats, and books from less mainstream authors and publishers. Library staff members showed generally positive attitudes toward this material, but there were some areas of concern, notably relating to the quality of materials, provision of materials to younger children, and the possibility of parental complaint. The study provides a much-needed preliminary insight into the subject and highlights areas for improvement.