269 Coming Out as a Library Offering Support to the LGBTQ+ Community During Trying Times Daniel Smith, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary ABSTR AC T The Styberg Library has offered support to the LGBTQ+ community in a variety of ways. This work stemmed from larger seminary commitments and statements that served as an impetus for the work. As an institution affiliated with the United Method- ist Church, we recognized how the current impasse in the denomi- nation had affected our community. In response, we offered ourselves as a place of affirmation and support. First, we curated several displays to highlight relevant resources and services that may be of interest to the queer community. We also created an LGBTQ+ LibGuide to highlight library resources/services and online community resources. Then, we began the process of construct- ing an archive to document the history of the seminary’s LGBTQ+ community after realizing our archive lacked these documents. We continue to explore further ways to extend support. This poster highlighted various aspects of this work. INTRODUCTION The Styberg Library at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary strives to be a welcoming place for all, respecting the diverse identi- ties that people bring with them, including gender identity/expres- sion and sexual orientation. We have become more explicit about our support of the LGBTQ+ community over the last couple of years, and we have drafted a library welcome statement (Styberg Library 2019b) for our website to this end. We have also created additional services and collected specific resources to further support this work. We continue to explore further ways to extend support. This poster highlighted various aspects of this work. 270 AT L A 2020 PROCEEDINGS CONTEXT To begin, I want to give a little context for the events that preceded our supportive actions. In 1968, the United Methodist Church was formed through a merger. Of course, Methodism had existed long before this, but this merger created an even larger, stronger denom- ination. By 1972, the church was actively debating what they called “the issue of homosexuality.” At the end of the church’s quadrennial gathering known as General Conference, new language entered the Book of Discipline, which is the governing text for the denomination. This inserted language formed what is known as the “incompatibil- ity clause,” which says in ¶304.3 that “the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching” (United Methodist Church 2016). From 1976 to 2016, additional prohibitive language has been inserted into the Book of Discipline, like prohibitions against ordain- ing LGBTQ+ clergy, marrying same-gender couples, or supporting LGBTQ+ groups. Groups and individuals have been trying to change the church’s stance since very early and, in 2019, a very contentious special General Conference was called to specifically address “the issue of homosexuality.” As you can imagine, the atmosphere at the seminary was quite tense during this time and, after the conference, which added further restrictions, our community was left feeling lost, disappointed, angry, confused, and so much more. As an insti- tution affiliated with the United Methodist Church, we recognized how the current impasse in the denomination had affected our community. In response, we offered ourselves as a place of affirma- tion and support. Along with the seminary, we wanted to openly show support for the LGBTQ+ community, particularly our students. We have continued to build upon our initial response. The poster detailed some of the ways that we have done this. Posters 271 OUR RESPONSE As soon as the conference was over, we decorated the library with rainbows and symbols of pride. This included resources for students to creatively express themselves with art supplies. We also created a special display of LGBTQ+ materials from our collection. Since then, we have had at least two other LGBTQ+ specific displays for events like Pride month in June and LGBTQ+ History Month in October. We have also endeav- ored to include LGBTQ+ authors in other monthly displays throughout the year. Before the conference, we had planned to create an LGBTQ+ LibGuide (Styberg Library 2019a), and it was in the works. By the end of the conference, we decided that it was time to share it with our community. It showcased many LGBTQ+ library resources as well as other online resources. We continue to revise and add to it as new items are added to the collec- tion and when we discover new online resources. We also regu- larly feature new LGBTQ+ resources in our “new arrivals” LibGuide. 272 AT L A 2020 PROCEEDINGS These items are featured in a special area shelving next to our main entrance and are usually quickly checked out by our patrons. In October 2019, we decided to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month in conjunction with Theological Libraries Month. We created a display of materials from the collection, which included special archival materials that showcased the seminary’s LGBTQ+ history. This celebratory month also featured a discussion with a queer professor and alum who share their research and experience as LGBTQ+ members of the seminary. This was a very moving experi- ence for the seminary community. In the process of planning for our celebration, we wanted to find information about the seminary’s LGBTQ+ history but quickly real- ized that our institutional archive was sorely lacking in this regard. We reached out to seminary friends to see if they knew someone who might be able to help expand this collection, and one name was shared by several folks. We contacted this alum and learned that she was a part of the founding of the seminary’s first LGBTQ+ student group, which became known as Sacred Worth. This group continues today, and we were able to celebrate its 25th anniversary last year. In fact, this alum was recently honored as a distinguished alum. Posters 273 These items are featured in a special area shelving next to our main entrance and are usually quickly checked out by our patrons. In October 2019, we decided to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month in conjunction with Theological Libraries Month. We created a display of materials from the collection, which included special archival materials that showcased the seminary’s LGBTQ+ history. This celebratory month also featured a discussion with a queer professor and alum who share their research and experience as LGBTQ+ members of the seminary. This was a very moving experi- ence for the seminary community. In the process of planning for our celebration, we wanted to find information about the seminary’s LGBTQ+ history but quickly real- ized that our institutional archive was sorely lacking in this regard. We reached out to seminary friends to see if they knew someone who might be able to help expand this collection, and one name was shared by several folks. We contacted this alum and learned that she was a part of the founding of the seminary’s first LGBTQ+ student group, which became known as Sacred Worth. This group continues today, and we were able to celebrate its 25th anniversary last year. In fact, this alum was recently honored as a distinguished alum. Overall, this work would not have been possible without key part- nerships with alums and groups like Sacred Worth. They helped us publicize this event, and they contributed to the displays. We are very grateful for this continued collaboration and look forward to what the future will bring. We have also updated our services and polices to better support the LGBTQ+ community. All library restrooms have been converted to be single-use and all-gender. We created a library welcoming state- ment that specifically welcomes people of all sexual orientations and gender identities: The Styberg Library welcomes and serves all persons, respecting the many diverse identities that they bring with them, including, but not limited to, ability, age, class, gender identity/expression, national origin, sexual orientation, race, and religion. The Library is committed to serving everyone professionally, hospitably, and equitably as we work to fulfill the mission and goals of the Library and Seminary. The Library strives to provide a positive, encouraging environment that makes everyone feel welcome and therefore better able to pursue their academic studies. Finally, we created a form (Styberg Library 2020) that allows patrons to share their chosen name with us so that all library correspondence uses their chosen name. We have promoted our resources and events in a variety of ways, and we continue to do so. For us, Facebook, the seminary newsletter, targeted emails, and flyers have been instrumental. Of course, word of mouth has been hugely successful as well. 274 AT L A 2020 PROCEEDINGS The seminary community has repeatedly expressed its thanks for our supportive work, and we are so glad to be a small part of making the seminary a welcoming, hospitable place for the LGBTQ+ community. To see more photos and examples of our support, visit bit. ly/3eDCGTe. http://bit.ly/3eDCGTe http://bit.ly/3eDCGTe Posters 275 RESOURCES There are many ways that you can become a welcoming and support- ive library. For additional information about how to welcome the LGBTQ+ community, see these excellent resources: • American Library Association. 2015. “Open to All: Serving the GLBT Community in Your Library.” www.ala.org/rt/sites/ala.org. rt/files/content/professionaltools/160309-glbtrt-open-to-all-tool- kit-online.pdf. • ———. 2010. “Intellectual Freedom.” www.ala.org/ aboutala/governance/policymanual/updatedpolicymanual/ section2/53intellfreedom. (See B.2.1.16.) • ———. n.d. “Libraries Respond: Services to LGBTQ+ People.” www.ala.org/advocacy/diversity/librariesrespond/Services- LGBTQ. • Ciszek, Matthew P. 2015. “The Rainbow Connection: Reference Services for the LGBT Community in Academic Libraries.” In Rethinking Reference for Academic Libraries: Innovative Develop- ments and Future Trends, edited by Carrie Forbes and Jennifer Bowers, 35–50. London: Roman & Littlefield. • Symons, Ann and John Freeman. 2015. “Serving Everyone: Welcoming the LGBT Community.” American Libraries, June 24, 2015. americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2015/06/24/serving-every- one. http://www.ala.org/rt/sites/ala.org.rt/files/content/professionaltools/160309-glbtrt-open-to-all-toolkit-on http://www.ala.org/rt/sites/ala.org.rt/files/content/professionaltools/160309-glbtrt-open-to-all-toolkit-on http://www.ala.org/rt/sites/ala.org.rt/files/content/professionaltools/160309-glbtrt-open-to-all-toolkit-on http://www.ala.org/aboutala/governance/policymanual/updatedpolicymanual/section2/53intellfreedom http://www.ala.org/aboutala/governance/policymanual/updatedpolicymanual/section2/53intellfreedom http://www.ala.org/aboutala/governance/policymanual/updatedpolicymanual/section2/53intellfreedom http://www.ala.org/advocacy/diversity/librariesrespond/Services-LGBTQ http://www.ala.org/advocacy/diversity/librariesrespond/Services-LGBTQ http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2015/06/24/serving-everyone/ http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2015/06/24/serving-everyone/ 276 AT L A 2020 PROCEEDINGS WORKS CITED Styberg Library. 2019a. “LGBTQ+ Resource Guide.” guides.garrett. edu/lgbtq. ———. 2019b. “Welcome & Mission.” library.garrett.edu/about/ welcome-mission. ———. “Update Name Form.” 2020. library.garrett.edu/update-name- form. United Methodist Church. 2016. The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press. http://guides.garrett.edu/lgbtq http://guides.garrett.edu/lgbtq http://library.garrett.edu/about/welcome-mission http://library.garrett.edu/about/welcome-mission http://library.garrett.edu/update-name-form http://library.garrett.edu/update-name-form