This essay seeks to explore how five public libraries in Stockholm have chosen to organize the LGBTQ classified literature in the physical library. The questions discussed in this essay are the following: - What factors affected the librarian’s decisions when deciding how to place the LGBTQ literature? - What response have the librarians received from library users regarding the physical organization? - What changes would the librarians like to see in the future in regards to the LGBTQ literature and the overall work toward the LGBTQ community? Semi-structured interviews with seven librarians were conducted and analyzed from a queer theory perspective on knowledge-organization. The results showed that the libraries that used dedicated shelves for the LGBTQ classified literature did so in order to make it easier for its users to find the literature on their own. They were also used to send out a signal regarding the libraries positive attitudes towards the LGBTQ community. Libraries who did not use dedicated shelves argued that the shelves could create an uncomfortable situation for library users and create a symbolic separation between the LGBTQ community and the rest of society. The shelves could also send out the wrong signal that LGBTQ classified literature only targets LGBTQ individuals. Concluding analysis showed that the shelves may have an including as well as an excluding effect. As for the future some librarians expressed a desire to fight heteronormativity and make the LGBTQ community and literature a more natural part of the library work and the library collections.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:hb-10548 |
| Date | January 2016 |
| Creators | Johansson, Matilda |
| Publisher | Högskolan i Borås, Akademin för bibliotek, information, pedagogik och IT |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | Swedish |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
| Relation | Kandidatuppsats i biblioteks- och informationsvetenskap vid Institutionen Bibliotekshögskolan ; 2016:9 |
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