Queering the Library:What are YOU doing to serve your LGBTQ

community?

Lea Susan Engle, Texas A&M UniversityKatie Paul French, Indiana University, Bloomington

Lowell Kane, Purdue University

What we’re going to do for you:

• Understand the current climate for LGBTQ students on college and university campuses

• Become aware of unique information and education needs of LGBTQ students

• Create a plan of action to implement at your home institution to increase inclusivity of LGBTQ communities

What you’re going to do for us:

• Ask questions• Tweet using the hashtag #queerlib• Check out our website at:– librarylea.com/queerlib

Vocabulary

• Sexual Orientation– Direction of your attraction– Mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual

• Gender Identity/Expression– Perception of self– Cultural indicators

• LGBTQ

CLIMATE

Climate and our Students

How students experience their campus

environment influences both learning and

developmental outcomes.1

Discriminatory environments have a

negative effect on student learning.2

Research supports the pedagogical value of a

diverse student body and faculty on enhancing learning outcomes.3

1 Pascarella & Terenzini, 1991, 20052 Cabrera, Nora, Terenzini, Pascarella, & Hagedron, 1999; Feagin, Vera & Imani, 1996; Pascarella & Terenzini, 1991. 3 Hale, 2004; Harper & Quaye , 2004; Harper, & Hurtado, 2007; Hurtado, 2003.

By the numbers

• 31% of LGBTQ students identify their campus as a phobic climate

• 21% experience harassment

• 33% of queer-spectrum and 38% of trans-spectrum students consider leaving their institutions

Rankin, S., Weber, G., Blumenfeld, W., and Frazer, M.S. (2010). 2010 State of Higher Education for LGBT People. Charlotte, NC: Campus Pride.

I considered leaving my campus because during my first semester….I was physically assaulted on campus on my way home. The university’s response was less than adequate.”

Rankin, S., Weber, G., Blumenfeld, W., and Frazer, M.S. (2010). 2010 State of Higher Education for LGBT People. Charlotte, NC: Campus Pride.

WHY IS THIS A *LIBRARY* ISSUE?

I’M JUST ONE VOICE, WHAT CAN I DO?

COULD THIS GET ME IN TROUBLE?