Many librarians have never questioned the heterosexism that pervades library services, policies, and collections. Additionally, since ALA leadership has rarely produced spokespersons advocating for GLBT library users and workers, and, since most programming concerning GLBT issues has been offered by such special interest groups as the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Round Table, the vast majority of ALA attendees are not exposed to GLBT concerns through involvement in their national professional association. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that so many librarians are indifferent or unaware of the needs of this particular library constituency. Stereotypes and myths still exist. As recently as this past November, a local school librarian told me that there were no LBGT students in her school and therefore no need to collect in this area.
Studies prove otherwise.
Feeling isolated and confused, and often dealing with shame, abuse, and violence, these students need access to affirmative information and materials rather than succumbing to the miseducation of their peers or the misinformation of those in authority. Availability A longstanding contention regarding LBGT library service has been the lack of availability of LBGT materials in libraries. Although there has been an enormous growth in LBGT publishing over the last two decades, studies continually show that library holdings fall far short of publishing output. A 1998 study examining the holdings of LBGT classic and award-winning books in major public libraries in the US and Canada found that on average the libraries surveyed held approximately three quarters of the 222 titles examined. While this shows some improvement over the earlier study, one must question why the holdings were not higher considering that the titles in essence formed a LBGT core list.