GLBT Programming in the Ocean County Library System: Programming, Partnerships, Promotion and Pitfalls. Pham Condello Karla Ivarson Julie Tozer

How it all started. 1997: Diversity Committee formed. 1998: Formal Diversity Plan. 1999: Training for all staff on diversity issues led by Mountaintop Ventures. 2003: GLBT Diversity Focus Group was formed: Insight Out.

1997: Diversity Committee formed.

1998: Formal Diversity Plan.

1999: Training for all staff on diversity issues led by Mountaintop Ventures.

2003: GLBT Diversity Focus Group was formed: Insight Out.

Making the case for GLBT programming. "The number of kids who question their sexuality is astonishingly large...some studies even suggest that as many as 20 percent of teens today are not completely heterosexual." Savin-Williams, Ritch C. The New Gay Teenager, 2005. Quoted in Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Teens: A How-to- Do-It Manual for Librarians , 2007. “ When I first realized I was gay,” Austin interjected, “I just assumed I would hide it and be miserable for the rest of my life. But then I said, ‘O.K., wait, I don’t want to hide this and be miserable my whole life.’ ” I asked him how old he was when he made that decision. “ Eleven,” he said. Denizet-Lewis, Benoit. "Coming Out in Middle School." NY Times Magazine, Sept. 23, 3009.

Making the case for GLBT programming. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. Massachusetts 2006 Youth Risk Survey We see the world through the prism of money. So we set out to determine a couple's lifetime cost of being gay. ... In our worst case, $467,562. In the best case, $41,196. Bernard, Tara Siegel and Ron Lieber. "The Higher Lifetime Cost of Being a Gay Couple." NY Times , October 2, 2009.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers.

Massachusetts 2006 Youth Risk Survey

We see the world through the prism of money. So we set out to determine a couple's lifetime cost of being gay. ... In our worst case, $467,562. In the best case, $41,196.

Bernard, Tara Siegel and Ron Lieber. "The Higher Lifetime Cost of Being a Gay

Couple." NY Times , October 2, 2009.

Making the case for GLBT programming. The library serves the entire community.

The library serves the entire community.

Staff training is the foundation for success. Informs staff of changes and prepares them to meet challenges from the public. Sets expectations for staff, that they are expected to support an environment of inclusivity.

Informs staff of changes and prepares them to meet challenges from the public.

Sets expectations for staff, that they are expected to support an environment of inclusivity.

Examples of training for staff: 2003--Gay Activist Alliance of Morris County panel discussion for staff: GLBT–GAAMC Speakers Bureau David Morris, Sue Harris, Ken Munson, Bill Cox.

2003--Gay Activist Alliance of Morris County panel discussion for staff:

GLBT–GAAMC Speakers Bureau David Morris, Sue Harris, Ken Munson, Bill Cox.

Examples of training for staff: 2003: Sensitivity Training Sessions led by OCL staff members. 2004: GBLT Issues in Law Enforcement with David D’Amico Leslie Feinberg, transgender activist, author and organizer, speaks at a Cultural Awareness Seminar at the Brick Branch.

2003: Sensitivity Training Sessions led by OCL staff members.

2004: GBLT Issues in Law Enforcement with

David D’Amico

Leslie Feinberg, transgender activist, author and organizer, speaks at a Cultural Awareness Seminar at the Brick Branch.

Examples of Staff Training 2006: Transgender panel discussion. 2008: GLSEN program on NJ’s Bullying Law. 2009: Dr. Escovitz, “Transgender Journey”. Rainbow Trivia Game on Gay History.

2006: Transgender panel discussion.

2008: GLSEN program on NJ’s Bullying Law.

2009: Dr. Escovitz, “Transgender Journey”.

Rainbow Trivia Game on Gay History.

What groups are in your area? Co-sponsors of programs can help with promotion and expenses. GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network) PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) County Board of Health Q Spot Harbor House (Shelter) Ask local groups what programs they would like to see as well as what they can present. Partnerships (see handout)

What groups are in your area? Co-sponsors of programs can help with promotion and expenses.

GLSEN

(Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network)

PFLAG

(Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)

County Board of Health

Q Spot

Harbor House (Shelter)

Ask local groups what programs they would like to see as well as what they can present.

Baker and Taylor does NOT have a GLBT booklist, but does note "gay fiction" in reviews. "Rainbow List": since 2008, a yearly list of children's and young adult titles, put together by the American Library Association’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Round Table and Social Responsibilities Round Table. See handout . Collections--Purchasing

Baker and Taylor does NOT have a GLBT booklist, but does note "gay fiction" in reviews.

"Rainbow List": since 2008, a yearly list of children's and young adult titles, put together by the American Library Association’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Round Table and Social Responsibilities Round Table. See handout .

The Lambda Literary Foundation Book Reviews: the most established review of contemporary GLBT literature, published quarterly. http://www.lambdaliterary.org Staff and customer suggestions. Collections--Purchasing

The Lambda Literary Foundation Book Reviews: the most established review of contemporary GLBT literature, published quarterly.

http://www.lambdaliterary.org

Staff and customer suggestions.

Take advantage of Independent Films (screening rights often included in the price). Note: many GLBT films are NOT rated, which means that someone has to review the movie for content and then add a collection code for the rating in the system. Collections: DVDs

Take advantage of Independent Films (screening rights often included in the price).

Note: many GLBT films are NOT rated, which means that someone has to review the movie for content and then add a collection code for the rating in the system.

Show sensitivity to customer needs, providing print and web bibliographies, but no separate shelving or signage. Book display ideas for Pride Month in June: Fiction Non-fiction Gay Authors Collections—Location and Display

Show sensitivity to customer needs, providing print and web bibliographies, but no separate shelving or signage.

Book display ideas for Pride Month in June:

Fiction

Non-fiction

Gay Authors

Breakout Brainstorming Session 10 minutes What programming could you see taking place at your library? Programming

Breakout Brainstorming Session

10 minutes

What programming could you see taking place at your library?

David Levithan Alex Sanchez Plan with your Teen Advisory Board or Friends Group. Programming: Author Visits

David Levithan

Alex Sanchez

Plan with your Teen Advisory Board or Friends Group.

Teen Advisory Board Adults from Jersey Shore PFLAG Programming: Game Night

Teen Advisory Board

Adults from Jersey Shore PFLAG

Programming: Book Discussions

Programming: Anti-Bullying 1. How many GLBT students experienced harassment at school in the past year? a. 86.2% b. 66.2% c. 46.2% d. 26.2% 2007 National School Climate Survey by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) A survey of 6,209 middle and high school students

Programming: Anti-Bullying 1. How many GLBT students experienced harassment at school in the past year? a. 86.2% b. 66.2% c. 46.2% d. 26.2% 2007 National School Climate Survey by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) A survey of 6,209 middle and high school students

Programming: Anti-Bullying 2. How many GLBT students felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation? a. 50.8% b. 60.8% c. 70.8% d. 80.8% 2007 National School Climate Survey by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) A survey of 6,209 middle and high school students

Programming: Anti-Bullying 2. How many GLBT students felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation? a. 50.8% b. 60.8% c. 70.8% d. 80.8% 2007 National School Climate Survey by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) A survey of 6,209 middle and high school students

Programming: Anti-Bullying 3. How many GLBT students skipped a day of school in the past month because of feeling unsafe? a. 2.7% b. 12.7% c. 22.7% d. 32.7% 2007 National School Climate Survey by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) A survey of 6,209 middle and high school students

Programming: Anti-Bullying 3. How many GLBT students skipped a day of school in the past month because of feeling unsafe? a. 2.7% b. 12.7% c. 22.7% d. 32.7% 2007 National School Climate Survey by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) A survey of 6,209 middle and high school students

Programming: Anti-Bullying Bullying & Bias: Prevention Seminars February 21, 2008 February 26, 2009

Programming: Anti-Bullying Resources - Local prosecutors and law enforcement - NJ Office of the Attorney General Division on Civil Rights - Anti-bullying/tolerance educators - School officials and counselors - Online: - safeschoolscoalition.org - National Bullying Prevention Campaign - bullying.org and njbullying.org - interventioncentral.org - spectrumdiversity.org

Programming: Judy Shepherd addresses the topic of hate crimes.

The Ocean County Board of Health presented information on local resources. Programming: AIDS Quilt + Informational Programs

The Ocean County Board of Health presented information on local resources.

Teens and Adults were separated for the second half of the program: Motivational speakers from Life Force: Women Fighting AIDS. Programming: AIDS Quilt + Informational Programs

Teens and Adults were separated for the second half of the program:

Motivational speakers from Life Force: Women Fighting AIDS.

Programming: AIDS Quilt + Day Without Art

Day Without Art 2008

Programming: Freeheld Film Screening and Panel Discussion

Freeheld screening: Don Bennett, Cynthia Wade, and Steve Goldstein

Programming: Film discussion series based on popular movies.

Growing Up Gay: panel members in their 30s to 70s will discuss what it was like to be a gay teenager in past eras. Help: My Kid Just Came Out of the Closet—What do I do now? Programming: PFLAG Panel Discussions

Growing Up Gay: panel members in their 30s to 70s will discuss what it was like to be a gay teenager in past eras.

Help: My Kid Just Came Out of the Closet—What do I do now?

Rainbowfest in Trenton. Gay Pride Day in June (Asbury Park for North Jersey, Philadelphia for South Jersey) Schools--Gay Straight Alliances? GLSEN knows if your school has one! Outreach

Rainbowfest in Trenton.

Gay Pride Day in June

(Asbury Park for North Jersey, Philadelphia for South Jersey)

Schools--Gay Straight Alliances? GLSEN knows if your school has one!

Press releases to local papers. Out in Jersey (see handout) Does your local newspaper/radio station let you post to a calendar? Social Networking sites. Outreach contacts? Promotion

Press releases to local papers.

Out in Jersey (see handout)

Does your local newspaper/radio station let you post to a calendar?

Social Networking sites.

Outreach contacts?

In your voice: Read reactions to this story airpat wrote: ----> AND WHY WOUL'NT THEY?? 3/26/2008 3:05:56 AM March 25, 2008 Forum: Growing up gay in '40s to '70s The Jersey Shore chapter of the group Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays will hold a panel discussion April 8 at the Brick branch of the Ocean County Library. The program, which begins at 7 p.m., will discuss the experiences of gay people growing up in the 1940s to the 1970s. To register for the program, call (732) 477-4513 or register online at the Web site www.theoceancountylibrary.org . The Brick branch is at 301 Chambers Bridge Road. Recommend Report Abuse MRDOOWOP wrote: Why would the County sanction such a group, by allowing them to meet at taxpayer expense ? 3/26/2008 12:05:25 AM Write up for April 8th 2008 PFLAG panel discussion, printed in The Asbury Park Press :

Make sure you have the support of top level administration in your library. Train your staff— we serve the entire community. Plan on receiving complaints. Hold questions until the end of presentations—this will help to limit disruptions. If you received press on an upcoming program, monitor message boards of your local paper. Avoiding Pitfalls

Make sure you have the support of top level administration in your library.

Train your staff— we serve the entire community.

Plan on receiving complaints.

Hold questions until the end of presentations—this will help to limit disruptions.

If you received press on an upcoming program, monitor message boards of your local paper.

Keep administrators informed of potential problems so that they aren’t blindsided. Inform police of any threats. Don’t get discouraged if attendance is sparse at your first events. Don’t assume that each GLBT program meets the needs of the entire community--for instance, not all members of this community are interested in marriage. Avoiding Pitfalls

Keep administrators informed of potential problems so that they aren’t blindsided.

Inform police of any threats.

Don’t get discouraged if attendance is sparse at your first events.

Don’t assume that each GLBT program meets the needs of the entire community--for instance, not all members of this community are interested in marriage.