Serving LGBTQ Teens

In this solid addition to the series, Houde offers straightforward and student-centered advice to public and school librarians, starting with the most basic question: Why do we need to make a special effort to serve and represent LGBTQ teens? For many, the answer will be obvious, but nevertheless, Houde lays out research-supported reasoning as she addresses this question and many others. Since serving marginalized populations often involves managing pushback from directors and community members, including requests for censorship of LGBTQ materials, this kind of foundational information is critical. The practical suggestions on collection development, privacy, outreach, and creating a welcoming environment are spot-on. Best of all, most of the steps outlined are simple yet powerful, raising librarians' consciousness of the needs of diverse groups and helping to provide a library space that strives to be as inclusive as possible.