The library is a place where everyone belongs! Age, gender, religion, language, or even where you stand on Batman vs. Superman or if you root for Team Jacob or Team Edward. It doesn’t matter! You’re welcome at the library.
The Poudre River Public Library District embraces diversity and strives to provide universal access to ideas and information to enrich our communities. This month we focus on our GLBT community with GLBT Book Month™, a “nationwide celebration of authors and writings that reflect the lives and experiences of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.” It’s an opportunity for all book lovers to engage with the very best of GLBT literature and voices.
The Stonewall Book Awards are presented annually to honor books of “exceptional merit relating to the [GLBT] experience.” Named for 1969 Stonewall Riots, the awards highlight works of literary fiction, non-fiction, and children’s and young adult literature. Past winners have included books by Benjamin Alire Saenz (Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club), Amy Ellis Nutt (Becoming Nicole: the Transformation of an American Family), and Jandy Nelson (I’ll Give You the Sun), all of which are available through the Library District. The online catalog also includes a variety of Lambda Literary Foundation award winners and finalists such as David Hunt’s Magician’s Tale, Michelle Tea’s Valencia, and Colm Toibin’s Empty Family: Stories.
In addition to the range of GLBT books in the collection, the Library District offers programming focused on GLBT issues and experiences. For instance, the Diversity Forum series, designed by teens and parents in collaboration with the City of Fort Collins Human Relations Commission, promotes dialogue and activities around dimensions of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and more.
A new Library District program is also in development to create an onsite book club for readers interested in exploring the works of GLBT authors. Stay tuned for more information on this book club and other exciting Library District programs dedicated to diversity, inclusiveness, and mutual respect.
GLBT Book Resources
- Poudre River Public Library District online catalog
- Book display at Old Town Library, 2nd floor (temporary)
- 2016 Stonewall Book Awards list
- 2016 Over the Rainbow list (for adult readers)
- 2016 Rainbow Book list (for children and young adult readers)
- 2016 Lambda Awards list