I would not separate books out from either collection. The first reason for this is simply because we do not have any of our fiction separated in my library's collection. If we separate Urban and LGBT fiction, we would then have to separate out science fiction, romances, and many other genres and that would be a huge undertaking when the majority of our patrons don’t seem to have trouble finding what they are looking for.
Secondly, I do
think that separating the genres out could lead some readers to not find these
books serendipitously. Author Foye worries that labeling his works could limit
his audience, stating, “The
term “street lit” can bring to mind…poorly packaged books . . . that aren’t
edited.” (Munshi, 2015). These stereotypes simply aren’t true, and by
separating these books out, we are risking these books being passed over by
those who haven’t yet discovered their merit.
Finally, at least
in terms of LGBT books specifically, I would not separate out these books for
safety reasons. By separating these books out, most likely using an additional
sticker or call number label designation, we could be putting some of our
patrons at risk. Some patrons may not be “out” yet or have families who
disapprove, so drawing attention to these books could make their homes, or even
browsing a separate area of our collection, unsafe for them. According to
Schofield and Sullivan (2021), “It is our professional
responsibility to promote both physical and intellectual safe
spaces for all, which requires us to actively and intentionally seek out
and call out such obstacles to equity as prejudice and
intolerance in our communities” (Schofield and Sullivan, 2021 p. 25). We can provide this safe space for
our patrons by having all the books combined in the same collection so they can
browse discreetly.
References:
Schofield, J., & Sullivan, M. (2021). Diverse books in all book clubs: Making the case for selection criteria. Public Libraries, 60(4), 22–27.
Munshi, N. (2020, December 7). Urban fiction: Words on the street. Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/08785ece-86ee-11e5-9f8c-a8d619fa707c
I love how you mention the safety of our patrons when it comes to separating LGBTQ books. I know that these books can help people learn about the community and even discover who they are if they think or feel that they may be a part of it. If we separated this, especially in more conservative or less understanding places, the person could be put in danger. This is a great reason to not separate these books. Great job!
ReplyDeleteIt seems like space is a big issue for a lot of libraries with separating collections. For my library, we have the same situation as your library. We don't seperate our other fiction books, so it doesn't make sense to do it for Urban Fiction or LGBTQ fiction.
ReplyDeleteHi Liz, I like how you talk about potentially self-identifying as LGBTQ being a safety issue in your community. It is more than just about getting rude looks. Sometimes it is truly a safety issue. It is sad, but we can do more to make sure libraries are safe spaces.
ReplyDeleteHi Liz, I'm noticing a trend that if one's library already genre-fies their fiction they are more likely to have an urban section. I agree that separating ALL the genres would be a huge undertaking if your library has never had genre section before.
ReplyDeleteI do disagree a little though about serendipitously discovering urban fiction- or a historical fiction or mystery- if it is still integrated with fiction. SO many of these books already have similar cover styles to signify to their reader what lies within, that most readers can tell by the cover if they're interested or not. Even if urban was integrated into fiction all the time, some readers still won't be able to discover it.
Very well put! Excellent response!
ReplyDelete