Perceptions of Academic Librarians toward LGBTQ Information Needs: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

While previous studies have examined lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) information needs, none have addressed librarian confidence in addressing LGBTQ-themed information needs or the factors affecting this confidence. The authors used a mixed-methods survey to assess the knowledge and perspectives of academic librarians in responding to information inquiries related to sexual orientation and gender identity. Based on an exploratory factor analysis, three variables were identified: duty of care/vulnerability of inquirer, public visibility of work conducted, and personal biases and prejudices. These factors can reduce or otherwise influence the ability to meet LGBTQ information needs.

LGBTQ+ health research guides at North American health sciences libraries: a survey and content analysis

“…A library without one of these guides does not necessarily indicate that the librarians or their institutions are uninterested in LGBTQ+ health or are antipathetic to the community. While Siegel et al (2020) report a small number of homophobic librarians in their study, the vast majority of librarians displayed positive or neutral feelings toward the LGBTQ+ community [32]. Based on their study, it can be assumed that most librarians have good intentions regarding providing resources and services to LGBTQ+ patrons, so homophobia and transphobia are probably not demotivating factors for guide creation.…”

“…The guides in this study could perhaps also be classified in the same manner, as many of the guides were most likely published by librarians who had a personal interest in promoting LGBTQ+ health. Librarians without a strong personal interest in LGBTQ+ health might not think to create a guide or might even have some discomfort in creating or supporting a guide with LGBTQ+ content [32]. However, it has been argued that the presence of a guide indicates to many patrons that the librarian behind the guide is an expert on the subject matter, which enhances the prestige of the librarian and, by extension, the library as a place to find quality information on LGBTQ+ health [26].…”

“…The four categories of LGBTQ+ health selected for coding were general LGBTQ+ health information, transgender health information, HIV/AIDS information, and information on women's health. These four categories were chosen because of their relevance to major health disparities in the community as described in recent literature on LGBTQ+ health and librarianship [23,27,32]. Coding was conducted in a Google Sheets spreadsheet.…”

“It’s hard to know what we should be doing”: LGBTQ+ students’ library privacy in the COVID-19 pandemic

“…However, LGBTQ+ patrons have privacy interests that their cisgender/heterosexual peers may not share, and which may require knowledge and skills that librarians do not have. As Siegel et al report, “many LGBTQ patrons are reluctant to seek assistance from library staff due to fear of judgment or discrimination during a reference interaction” ( 2020 : 122). Similarly, Hawkins et al, in a study of health librarianship, report that LGBTQ youths “fear stigma and need to know that the librarian will demonstrate cultural competency when handling their requests” ( 2017 : 320).…”

“…Unfortunately, while they found that most academic librarians are “willing, and frequently enthusiastic to assist patrons with LGBTQ-themed information needs,” one librarian in their study stated that “the consciously chosen perversion of LGBT should not be promoted by libraries due to its historically and contemporary destructive impact on all aspects of society e.g. public health, economics, promoting personal immorality, and overall moral decadence and degeneration” ( Siegel et al, 2020 : 138–139). Even among the majority of librarians who wished to be helpful and supportive of their LGBTQ+ patrons, Siegel et al also found that “many librarians recognize that they need more training, such as on LGBTQ terminology and culture, and information resources” ( 2020 : 139).…”