Gender Issues and the Library

With the legalization of same-sex marriage and the explosion of LGBTQ news coverage in recent years, gender studies is a subject of intense interest in popular media and a part of the curriculum at many colleges. Libraries realize the importance of supporting the field yet many have difficulty finding resources and programming ideas. This book provides case studies and a range of innovative solutions for better meeting patron needs. Twenty-seven chapters are arranged into sections covering Research and Library Instruction, History and Herstory, Programming, Collections and Beyond, and Resources.

A Michigan resident, Carol Smallwood has practiced in school, public and special libraries. Her primary interest is practical librarianship, and she is the author of journal articles and editor of numerous books.

Lura Sanborn is the instruction & research librarian at St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire.

Edited by Carol Smallwood and Lura Sanborn

Foreword by Loida ­Garcia-Febo

Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 233
Bibliographic Info: bibliographies, index
Copyright Date: 2017
pISBN: 978-1-4766-6473-6
eISBN: 978-1-4766-3034-2
Imprint: McFarland

Foreword by Loida ­Garcia-Febo 1
Preface 3

Part I: Research and Library Instruction
Lesson Plan for Exploring Gender Roles in Society, Literature and Film (Morna Gerrard and Callan Wells) 5
“Masculinities: A Feminist Perspective”: A Hybrid Course Built from Scratch (Darcy I. Gervasio, Rebecca Oling and Patricia Rind) 12
Cataloging and Gender Studies (Linda Garrison) 20
Breaking the Glass Screens: A Case Study in Feminist Wikipedia ­Edit-a-thons (Kendall Larson and Stewart Van Cleve) 27
Silenced Voices Lesson Plan (Morna Gerrard and Callan Wells) 35
The Implications of “High Scatter” for Women’s Studies Journals and Collection Development (Stephanie H. Wical) 41

Part II: History and Herstory
Documenting Women’s Labor History: A Case Study in Improving Access and Outreach for Underrepresented Groups (Kristen L. Chinery and Elizabeth Clemens) 50
Performing Women’s History in the Public Library (Jamie L. Huber) 57
Finding Women’s History in Archives and Special Collections: Basic to Advanced Ideas for Outreach and Instruction (Michael Taylor and Tara Zachary Laver) 63
The Herstory of the Book: Resources for the Study of Women in Book History (Maggie Gallup Kopp) 71

Part III: Programming
Supporting Trans* Teens in the Public Library (M’issa Fleming) 79
“Sex in the Library”: Promoting an Undergraduate Gender Studies Research Program in an Academic Library (Lynn D. Lampert, Ellen E. Jarosz and Coleen ­Meyers-Martin) 87
Third Wave Library Activism: The Dynamic Possibilities of a Women’s and Gender Studies and University Library Partnership (Carrie E. Moran and Leandra ­Preston-Sidler) 95
Beyond Women’s History Month: Strengthening Collection Development and Programming at Public and School Libraries through Women’s Studies Resources (Joy Worland) 102
Partnering Across Campus to Engage the LGBTQ+ Community (Anthony Wright de Hernandez and Samantha R. Winn) 111

Part IV: Collections and Beyond
Evolution of the Curriculum: Using Archives to Inform Collection Development for Women’s Studies (Laurel Bliss and Anna W. Culbertson) 121
Beyond Collections: Libraries, Ally Work and the Preservation of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Programs (Karl Ericson, Megan Novell and Rosemary Weatherston) 129
LGBT Inclusive Elementary Library (Jeanine M. Huss and Barbara Fiehn) 138
Reaching LGBTIQ Teens through Comics and Graphic Novels (Lisa Morgan) 147
Women and Wikipedia: Diversifying Editors and Enhancing Content through Library ­Edit-a-Thons (Therese F. Triumph and Kimberley M. Henze) 155
Behind Every Great Protagonist Is a Woman: Gender Imbalances in Popular Fiction and How to Correct Them (Jessica Zellers) 163

Part V: Resources
Spreading Girl Germs: Sources on ­Third-Wave Feminism in Collaborative Librarianship (Anna W. Culbertson and Laurel Bliss) 170
Foreign Governments and International Organizations: Web Resources for Women’s Studies (Karen Evans) 178
U.S. Government Resources on Women and Women’s Issues (Karen Evans) 189
Collaboration: Women Remaking American Political Culture (Vince Lee) 196
Graphic Activism: Lesbian Archival Library Display (Shawn(ta) ­Smith-Cruz) 204
Resources to Support Men and Masculinities Studies: Recommendations and Experiences (Amy Hughes) 211

About the Contributors 219
Index 223

• “Gender issues have expanded in recent years and become increasingly nuanced. Therefore, this collection of essays on gender studies resources, services and research from the librarianship perspective are especially welcome. While the focus remains feminist, masculinity and other gender identities are explored through meaningful processes. Chapters include both “traditional” aspects of gender studies, such as cataloging patriarchy and ‘herstory’ content analysis as well as innovative ways to voice under-represented gendered points of view through use of space, curation, and edit-a-thons. The reader will find in-depth field-proven strategies and useful resources for pro-actively and collaboratively addressing gender issues and promoting inclusivity.”—Dr. Lesley S. J. Farmer, California State University Long Beach and ALISE Gender Issues SIG Chair
• “As a university professor who taught gender studies turned librarian, I fully appreciate the depth and scope of this volume and believe it can provide something useful for all.”—Su Epstein, Director, Saxton B. Little Free Library, Columbia, Connecticut
• “In this remarkable collection of gender-focused chapters, the writers explore libraries as a vehicle to promote inclusion and acceptance.”—Deloris J. Foxworth, School of Information Science, University of Kentucky
• “Fulfills the wide expanse of gender-sensitive topics providing new insights and accessibility for the classroom.”—Christine Redman-Waldeyer, Founder and Editor of Adanna, a journal for women, about women
• “Gender studies in libraries is rarely examined to the extensive level of this anthology…it is evident that libraries are a strong catalyst for social justice and promoting inclusive spaces.”—Jorge E. Perez, Digital Learning & Information Technology Librarian, Medical Library, Florida International University, Miami, Florida
• “This book has something for everyone interested in gender studies: academic and public librarians, educators and activists, writers and readers–just pick your focus and listen to experts in each area speak from experience.”—Robert Means, English Language & Literature Librarian, Brigham Young University