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GLBT/Sexual Diversity Studies Students and Academic Libraries: A Study of User Perceptions and Satisfaction
Abstract
This study looks at how Canadian academic libraries are meeting the needs and expectations of students in GLBT and Sexual Diversity studies in collections and information services. This includes availability and access to GLBT studies materials and research databases, visibility of GLBT resources, availability of instruction and instructional resources, and the quality of reference service that students receive (level of expertise and comfort level of staff with GLBT/Sexual Diversity questions).
... However, he noted that only 25% of the academic libraries in his survey actually had any sort of online guide for LGBT students or highlighting LGBT resources [19]. Lupien (2007), in his study of library usage by students in GLBT and Sexual Diversity studies programs, found that students believed libraries could do more to promote their resources. One of the common suggestions from respondents was that libraries should create pages online to highlight their LGBT resources [20]. ...
... Lupien (2007), in his study of library usage by students in GLBT and Sexual Diversity studies programs, found that students believed libraries could do more to promote their resources. One of the common suggestions from respondents was that libraries should create pages online to highlight their LGBT resources [20]. Stewart and Kendrick (2019) recommended the use of research guides to promote library LGBTQ+ resources, as well as resources available to students on campus and in the local community [21]. ...
Objectives:
Current literature recommends online research guides as an easy and effective tool to promote LGBTQ+ health information to both health care providers and the public. This cross-sectional study was designed to determine how extensive LGBTQ+ health guides are among hospital and academic libraries and which features are most prevalent.
Methods:
In order to locate LGBTQ+ health guides for content analysis, we searched for guides on the websites of libraries belonging to the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) and the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL). Additionally, we searched the Springshare interface for LibGuides with the word "health" and either "LGBT" or "transgender." Content analysis was performed to identify major characteristics of the located guides, including target audience and the information type provided.
Results:
LGBTQ+ research guides were identified for 74 libraries. Of these, 5 were hospital libraries, and the rest were academic libraries. Of 158 AAHSL member libraries, 48 (30.4%) had LGBTQ+ guides on their websites. Nearly all guides (95.9%) provided general LGBTQ+ health information, and a large majority (87.8%) also had information resources for transgender health. Smaller percentages of guides contained information on HIV/AIDS (48.6%) and women's health (16.2%).
Conclusions:
Even though literature recommends creating LGBTQ+ health guides, most health sciences libraries are missing an opportunity by not developing and maintaining these guides. Further research may be needed to determine the usage and usefulness of existing guides and to better identify barriers preventing libraries from creating guides.
... 14 Lupien, focusing on academic libraries, surveyed students and faculty in LGBTQ/Sexual Diversity classes in several Canadian universities to determine their usage and satisfaction with their libraries' collections and services; nearly three-quarters of respondents identified as LGBTQ. 15 The results indicated that 38.5 percent of the respondents had asked LGBTQrelated reference questions of library staff, and overall they were satisfied with the librarians' comfort; however, they also felt some training might be needed on LGBTQ resources. Those respondents who did not use reference services either felt they did not need help or feared discrimination or judgment. ...
... Following demographic questions, participants were asked to indicate their familiarity with 15 LGBTQ-related terms using a Likert scale-ranging from "Never heard" to "Very familiar." Zimmer, Solomon, and Carson emphasize that terminology is evolving. ...
While previous studies have examined lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) information needs, none have addressed librarian confidence in address-ing 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 orienta-tion 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.
... With the same aim of reflecting on current realities, a recent body of LIS literature has focused on sexual diversity issues and, particularly, on the needs of the LGBTQ community. With a focus on academic libraries, Lupien (2007) created a survey addressed to students and faculty in LGBTQ Sexual Diversity classes in several Canadian universities to understand their usage and satisfaction with collections and services in their libraries. The results showed that 38.5% of the respondents had asked LGBTQ related reference questions of library staff. ...
Disregarding gender and LGBTQ perspectives at the undergraduate level perpetuates stereotypes and biases that jeopardize gender equality in society. Building on empirical evidence collected by an action-research project at the Faculty of Information and Audiovisual Media at the University of Barcelona (Spain), this article provides a diagnosis of how teachers and students perceive and value gender and LGBTQ perspectives. Using a multi-method approach (focus group and field journals), this research identified a generalized interest in the incorporation of a gender perspective, although significant barriers are found when carrying it out. While teachers place more emphasis on issues of lack of training and institutional recognition, students value the incorporation of the gender and LGBTQ perspectives yet still observe important limitations. The research also evidences the opportunity of applying action-research projects in bringing together collective reflection and action, as well as the advantages of combining different qualitative methods.
... Adopting a broader approach, Lupien (2007) examined students enrolled in "GLBT/ Sexuality Diversity" programs, encompassing various sexual orientations, at three Canadian universities. Survey data were collected from 148 individuals including undergraduates, graduates, faculty and staff. ...
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine collegiate information barriers and perceptions of academic library climate among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) college students in the USA.
Design/methodology/approach
The primary method used for this investigation was an online crowdsourced survey of 105 participants who attended two and four-year colleges in the USA. The questionnaire used free word association where participants shared information barriers encountered on colleges’ campuses. Responses from each questionnaire were interpreted using open coding.
Findings
Information barriers around sexuality continue to be a challenge for non- heteronormative information seekers on college campuses. One-third of students had distinctive information needs around their sexuality and experienced information barriers from both the institution and social stigma. The study reveals an evolution in sexual minority students’ sense of self, which has moved beyond the binary identity of gay/lesbian explored in previous studies; students identified bisexuality as a salient information need, and described a campus environment that often erased bisexuality. The academic library was described as an information barrier due to inadequate sexual minority-related resources.
Practical implications
Academic librarians as well as higher education professionals, such as recruitment/admissions officers, student counseling services, student health and student affairs, can leverage the results of this study to help establish a more inclusive and welcoming information environment that empowers students for academic and personal success.
Originality/value
A limited number of studies in information science have focused on sexual minority college students’ information behaviors and even fewer on information barriers. This study presents new insight and deeper understanding of the collegiate information environment of LGBT identified students in the USA.
... Dervin & Nilan's (1986) "Information Needs and Uses" has been cited more than 1,700 times according to Google Scholar; a review of the literature indicates that their article is seen as the starting point for a greater user focus within the field of information sciences (Olsson, 2016). Indeed, several user studies have been conducted with a focus on diverse populations around the world (Devi & Dlamini, 2014;Lupien, 2007;Tennakoon, Saridakis, & Mohammed, 2018). However, Mehra and Davis (2015) identify gaps in this focus: "what is missing, however, from current practice is a holistic identification, analysis and description of users in terms of their psychological, behavioral and demographic attributes as contextualized in response to localized environments" (p. ...
This article applies the Strategic Diversity Manifesto—originally designed for evaluating inclusion of diversity among the information resources of public libraries—to aging services. Aging services is the collection of organizations and resources that serve the fastest growing population in the world—older adults. This application is accomplished through the methods of website evaluation and participatory assessment. The result of this case study is a specific adaptation of the Strategic Diversity Manifesto to the Office on Aging in Knox County, Tennessee, U.S., indicating how aging services organizations can build on their existing services and outreach to diverse elder populations through their organizational information resources. For this study, diversity among older adults is represented specifically through the “members of ethnic and racial minority groups,” “people with disabilities,” “LGBTQ people,” “immigrants/refugees,” and “low-income people” categories.
... Much of the literature details how library collections are lacking LGBTQ materials (Garnar 2000;Greenblatt 2003;Loverich and Degnan 1995;Lupien 2007;Rothbauer 2005;Schaller 2011;Stankus and Raaflaub 1991). As an historic problem, this is characterized by the belief there is no demand or by challenges resulting in removal, reclassification, or quiet integration (Alexander and Miselis 2007). ...
Despite current research, LIS continues to lack a holistic understanding of LGBTQ informational barriers in varying contexts. Using literature retrieved with no date limit applied from Library & Information Science Abstracts, Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts, and ProQuest’s Library Science Database, this review surveys the barriers to access and information for LGBTQ users and potential users of public, academic, and school libraries. Using controlled vocabularies and keyword searching, sources directly or indirectly concerning LGBTQ informational barriers were chosen and further refined based on study scope. Eight barrier categories are outlined, with discussion on barrier formation, reinforcement, and perception. © 2018 The Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science.
... The definitions of these aspects tend to be elusive, and often overlap. A brief review of the LIS literature seems to suggest that definitions of user experience tend to emphasize products and systems (Gallant & Wright, 2014;Majors, 2012;Norman & Nielsen, n.d.;Yue & Beisler, 2014;) while user perception definitions mainly address services (Lupien, 2007;Ouellete, 2011;Rehman, Shafique, & Mahmood, 2011;Rojeski, 2012). With a specific focus on language and how it impacts information searching online, the current study employed a web survey to gather information on bi/multilingual users' experience and perceptions on searching for information on the Internet and on electronic databases. ...
In recent years, technological advancements in Natural Language Processing (NLP) such as machine translation have made it possible for users to access information in multiple languages, even those in which they may not be proficient. The current study investigated the information searching behavior of bi/multilingual academic users, and examined their practices and perceptions regarding searching for information on the Internet and on electronic databases. Bi/multilingual students were recruited from a Canadian university and a community college both located in London, Ontario. A total of 250 (N = 250) students completed a web survey through a link that was embedded in an invitation e-mail. Results showed that though advancements in NLP technology have alleviated some of the linguistic related challenges that some bi/multilingual academic users face while searching for information online, language barriers do still exist for some especially at the query formulation stage. The study found that an increase in Multilingual Information Access (MLIA) tools on electronic databases coupled with appropriate information literacy instruction could be helpful in further alleviating language barriers.
... In the 21 st century, librarians continue to write about library patrons seeking LGBTIQ information in the stacks to promote LGBTIQ collection development (Garnar 2000;Fikar 2004;Downey 2005;Mathson and Hancks 2006;Lupien 2007;Adler 2010;Schaller 2011;Campbell Naidoo 2013;Chapman 2013;Hughes-Hassell, Overberg, and Harris 2013;GLBT Youth 2014;Yilmaz 2014). Since the Internet and EBooks have become ubiquitous, however, libraries are seeing a decrease in print book circulation (Martell 2008). ...
An increasing percentage of LGBTIQ information seekers desire online resources over print. The rise of EBooks—cheap, convenient, and available online—have led a significant number of LGBTIQ readers to abandon libraries and bookstores for Amazon and other online EBook providers. Meanwhile, public, academic, and school librarians have been slow to assess the user needs and format preferences of LGBTIQ patrons, and continue to focus on the acquisition of print LGBTIQ books and access to these materials. While more publishers are providing EBook versions of LGBTIQ titles, and authors are giving permission to digitize “classic” LGBTIQ works, public library EBook collections such as Overdrive, as well as academic EBook collections made available through EBSCOHost, Electronic Book Library (EBL), JSTOR, Project MUSE, and ProQuest ebrary do not include the number of critical LGBTIQ titles that they should. This chapter will address the challenges of LGBTIQ EBook acquisitions, the dire need for quality LGBTIQ EBooks, and challenges to global LGBTIQ EBook access.
... 24 In a survey of Canadian academic library users, Pascal Lupien reports a very similar ratio; 53 percent of non-LGBTQ respondents believed that there was "good coverage" of print LGBTQ materials, but only 14 percent of self-identified LGBTQ participants thought that the print collection was good, with the most common complaint being that books were outdated. 25 It is not clear what types of print materials LGBTQ users needed or wanted from an academic library. Suzy Taraba, back in 1990, stated that an academic library has the responsibility to support all students' information needs, including supplementary materials such as coming-out stories; and she concluded that, with the "rise of scholarly study of popular culture, materials once considered strictly extracurricular often serve a dual purpose." ...
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Studies and the broader discipline of sexuality studies are multidisciplinary fields that require a different approach to collection development in academic libraries. Many library collections budgets reflect the traditional divisions by academic department, and multidisciplinary fields often transcend these conventional boundaries. The concept of one selector for one department, while being a well-established and practical approach to collection building, is limited in breadth and scope and is not necessarily suitable for multidisciplinary fields. This study uses citation analysis to assess the LGBTQ collection at Concordia University Libraries, to ascertain collection strengths and weaknesses, and to recommend collaborative collection development as a viable method of building an excellent collection in a multidisciplinary subject area.
This study examines the availability of LGBTQ Spanish language nonfiction books among selected university libraries along the United States–Mexico border to measure access to materials for readers and researchers and identify what resources selectors might use to inform purchases. This study utilizes 37 titles and seven libraries for a comparison of holdings. It seeks to expand the body of knowledge available regarding LGBTQ literature while establishing a baseline regarding the availability of LGBTQ Spanish-language materials in academic libraries.
Libraries aim to meet the needs of the communities they serve inclusive of those from diverse cultural backgrounds, and more recently particularly addressing those who identify as LGBTIQ+. Universities have also begun to focus on building inclusion for LGBTIQ+ students and staff in their communities generally. This review examines the literature as it relates to academic libraries addressing the needs of their LGBTIQ+ users and the provision of LGBTIQ+ information resources to the university community. The literature is discussed under the themes of information needs, service needs and LGBTIQ+ resources and access in collections. Within these themes barriers to meeting LGBTIQ+ users’ needs and current recommended responses for academic libraries are also discussed. The review concludes that further evaluation of LGBTIQ+ holdings in academic libraries, and academic libraries’ adoption of recommended responses to LGBTIQ+ user needs is warranted. Also identified is the need for an updated examination of LGBTIQ+ users’ views on how academic libraries might meet their specific needs.
This article explores the relationship between the perceived campus environment for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) students at colleges and universities and how academic libraries have deployed GLBT-related resources on the Web. Recommendations are made for increasing GLBT-related materials and information in academic libraries.
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a case study of a specialty collection implementation: lesbian fiction, in the Barnard College Library.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employs a multistep approach to implement the development of a lesbian fiction collection. First, a collection profile was created to assess the current state of collection, and then a checklist was developed to serve as a collection development tool.
Findings
The collection profile provides important information for the collection development process. Consistent subject heading access control is essential for collection assessment and maintenance.
Practical implications
The collection proposal and the suggestions drawn by the study were adopted by Barnard Library for collection development and maintenance. The methodology applied and the resources consulted in the study can serve as references for academic librarians with similar collection development goals.
Originality/value
Very few studies have been done to discuss issues related to the collection development of GLBT themed fiction, particularly lesbian fiction in an academic library. This paper provides a concrete example of how Barnard Library carried out the selection of lesbian novels.
How does Edmonton's gay male community perceive the Edmonton Public Library (EPL) in terms of gay-related information and materials? The research reported here helps to redress the lack of empirical evidence to support the development of library collections to meet the needs of gay males. Data were collected with a self-administered questionnaire; 46 respondents completed the survey, of whom 36 had been customers of EPL during the previous year and 25 had sought gay-related information. Findings indicate that during the stage of coming out, the public library was the most significant resource for information about homosexuality. However, many seeking information at EPL were dissatisfied with the materials available. Suggested improvements were: expand the gay collection; provide more current gay information; and subscribe to gay magazines. Although EPL collects many current and apparently relevant titles, findings suggest that gay males may be unaware of their extent and quality.
To obtain basic facts and considered opinions from health care professionals and students (nonlibrarian and librarian) about the information needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered (GLBT) health care professionals and their interactions with medical librarians.
The survey instrument was a Web-based questionnaire. A nonrandom sample of health care professionals and students (librarian and nonlibrarian) was obtained by posting messages to several large Internet electronic discussion groups (GLBT and general) and to randomly selected members of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association. A total of 152 forms were analyzed with about 50% of the participants being GLBT persons.
GLBT people have specific health information needs and concerns. More than 75% of medical librarians and students believed that GLBT persons have special information needs, with similar response rates by nonlibrarian health professionals and students. The delivery of services needs to be done with privacy and respect for the feelings of the patron. Major areas of need include the topics of health care proxy, cancer, adolescent depression and suicide, adoption, sexual health and practices, HIV infection, surrogate parenting, mental health issues, transgender health issues, intimate partner violence, and intimate partner loss.
Most GLBT health care professionals desire GLBT-friendly health information services. Making GLBT-oriented health information resources available on a library Web page and making an effort to show acceptance of cultural diversity through signs or displays would be helpful. Education directed toward instilling an awareness of GLBT persons may also be advisable. Most survey participants make some use of medical reference services and many find medical librarians to be very helpful and resourceful.
This study describes a survey of 141 lesbians in a metropolitan area of North Carolina. In addition to assessing library usage and library satisfaction, this study also examined information needs as they exist within the situational contexts of these women's lives. Results indicated that during the initial stages of identity acceptance, when individuals may not have access to the lesbian community, the library is used heavily as an information resource. During the later stages of identity acceptance, information needs become more specific and resources are consulted with more discrimination. Overall, satisfaction with the library's services is low, respondents consistently reported that collections are meager and dated, and that librarians are unable to serve this population adequately due to their ignorance and homophobia. Several recommendations are made for improvement of the library's services to this population.
For gay and lesbian youth, the public library can be a key resource for information about emerging and often-confusing sexual feelings. A good reference librarian can mean the difference between the youth fleeing the library or considering the library a helpful refuge. This article reports the results of an unobtrusive observation study in British Columbia in which a youth asked a gay and lesbian-related question at twenty different public library reference desks. The behaviors and verbal responses of the reference librarians were recorded afterward by the youth on an observation checklist based on the RUSA Guidelines for Reference Behavior. Most of the librarians scored acceptably in areas such as maintaining confidentiality but the study showed that improvement is needed in other areas such as conducting a good reference interview and awareness of relevant gay or lesbian book or Web resources.
Reports results of a questionnaire survey of users of the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Collection (LGB) located in, and shared between, Brighten Central Library and nearby Hove Central Library, UK; to determine who uses it, reasons for use, what resources are used and the benefits of having a separate and centralized collection. Questionnaires were made available at the two libraries with sealed boxes provided in which to deposit responses to ensure anonymity and confidentiality and were available during November and December 1997. Forty four completed questionnaires were received and the results were analysed using SPSS. The importance of the Collection to the LGB community was confirmed, but the view that such collections also serve the wider community could not be supported from the profile of respondents. Concludes that separate collections aid information access and that concerns of 'ghettoization' seem unfounded. A centralized collection increases access and availability and bibliographies aid access and possibly lead to greater use. Most respondents use the LGB Collection for recreational use, particularly fiction, highlighting a gap in the research literature and showing that even advocates of LGB Collections have underestimated this need.
Through personal interviews, this qualitative study sought to determine the information needs of a nonrandom sample of lesbian women during the process of coming out, as well as to gauge the effectiveness of the resources to which they turned for information. By exploring the questions and concerns that these women had while developing a lesbian identity, informational needs were identified. Results indicate that while public librarians have the opportunity–and indeed the obligation–to serve this group of potential customers, several barriers inhibit the effectiveness of the services provided.
This inquiry, undertaken in New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States examines information-seeking of young gay males about coming-out, taking a social constructionist perspective on gay identity. The investigation uses data collected from critical incident technique interviews in which these young men related their information needs, information-seeking activities, and the conditions of these activities. Findings show that they typically encountered three types of information needs; these are linked to self-labeling, consequences for self-identifying as gay, and forming an understanding of a gay identity. Participants' information-seeking typically involved interacting with young gay adults through online forums. However, they also experienced a period when they did not pursue their information needs about coming-out. Conditions most strongly characterizing information-seeking were the experience of fear and the concealment of information-seeking activities. These findings are considered in association with Chairman's (1996) Theory of Information Poverty. The discussion of the findings also proposes directions for future research and provision of information.
The purpose of this study was to determine if young adults, or others interested in literature for teens, have access through public libraries to novels with homosexual content. A random sample of 40 English language young adult novels with gay/lesbian content was checked against the holdings of 40 medium and large Canadian public libraries having remotely accessible catalogs. The average number of titles held by all libraries was 16.2 (40.4 percent). There was no significant relationship found between library size and number of titles held (r = 0.302; CV0.05 (38) = 0.311). The results of this study suggest that, while some libraries seem to be doing a good job of providing these potentially controversial titles, others are not. Suggestions for further research are included.
According to Sasha Alyson, collections development librarians have a responsibility to provide books that address the needs of the estimated 10 percent of the population who are homosexual. Several authors have discussed the important role that libraries can play in the lives of gays and lesbians (see for example, Alyson, 1984; Ashby, 1987; Parkinson, 1987; and Monroe, 1989). Because they afford a degree of privacy to users, libraries that house good collections are a desirable place for gays and lesbians to sift through their positive and negative images and, in so doing, find solace and hope.