Northeast Ohio Regional Library System - Event Information
Event Name:
LGBTQ+ Reader’s Advisory
Competency:
Readers' Advisory
Description:
Join us for a series of book talks on LGBTQ+ fiction and non-fiction for young adult and middle grade readers. We’ll talk about some classic LGBTQ+ titles as well as the newest offerings and examine resources available to provide your own recommendations. We will also talk about the importance of "own voices" books to teens and tweens, allowing libraries to better relate to their LGBTQ+ population and to provide better resources to their communities as a whole.
Learning Objectives:
Make recommendations to students asking for LGBTQ+ books and feel empowered to booktalk these resources for students who may not feel comfortable asking individually
Gain familiarity with blogs, message boards, and review sites that focus on LGBTQ+ books and their place in the community
Understand why it is important to provide “own voices” books to teens and tweens and understand the varying degrees of the LGBTQ+ spectrum
Presenters:
Christopher Brackett is a librarian at the James Weldon Johnson Community Library in St. Petersburg, FL. He is originally from Fitchburg, Massachusetts and has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Fitchburg State University and a Master's in Library Science from the University of South Florida in Tampa. Chris is a fan of YA novels, particularly fantasy, sci-fi, and LGBTQ+ stories. He is a huge movie buff and pop culture aficionado.
Tricia Smith is a librarian in the St. Petersburg Library System. Originally from Auburn, Alabama, she has a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Auburn University and a Master's in Library Science from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Tricia likes to read banned books, or books that are controversial, because she likes to know what all the fuss is about. She reads classics for the same reason.