Thanks to the article “Liberating Information: Radical Librarians Shelve the Status Quo” by Alana Kumbier in a more recent issue of Punk Planet (Nov/Dec 2002), I’ve found my calling--or at least one of them. I want to be a radical librarian. What better way for a print junkie/feminist/ acti-vist/under-represented queer to pass on free, essential literature to the public (and with such an official title)?

Kumbier interviews a slew of politically and socially conscious librarians who all seem to see the public library as a socio-political microcosm that should be held more responsible for representing more than just white, middleclass based material. One cataloger, Katia Roberto (my hero in this article, especially after I found her Diary of a Mad Catologer web site, which includes queer resources the social sciences) shrewdly points out, “Most libraries are lacking zines, small and independent press books, independent magazines, sound recordings on [independent record labels]…” Libraries opting not to include indie publications of all sorts in their collections tend to slight many perspectives and voices in the process.

Illustration by Emily Flake (Punk Planet Issue # 52)

Roberto explains this exclusionary mindset being spread into the types of book displays exhibited at her library when she ran into great difficulty working to set up a display for Pride month. Roberto explains “I had to get permission because that could be considered promoting a lifestyle…[But] while libraries may make claims against ‘promoting’ lifestyles, they hold full power over how to classify them.” Roberto’s point here made me think of how much libraries are granted an extreme amount of authority over what will become public information in their decision to place (or not place) certain texts on their shelves. Although the excuse of funding is often seen as a justifiable answer as to why underrepresented types of text and media, like those representing LBGT communities for example, are not stocked on library shelves, this should become a cue for people to see what books, magazines, zines, music, videos, etc. they can donate from their own shelves. For those of us who don’t have materials to donate but wish to see a more realistic and wider representation of voices and perspectives in libraries, we can write and email our local libraries.

A good site I've found that lists libraries, search engines, and bookstores that are either queer centered or supply queer texts and media is http://www.conjure.com/glb.html#literary.

Also, check out the article "Swallow Your Pride: Frustrated by the corporate takeover of gay pride events, queer radicals are bringing the riot back to the party" by George B. Sanchez. Sanchez covers other Pride festivals in his article like La Di Dah and Gay Shame (another alternative Pride event not mentioned in this article is Sheila Fest) that are staged in opposition or as an alternative to larger, corporate sponsored Pride events. You can also check out other articles on this subject on the Onward anarchist newsletter web site, Mother Jones' site, and as well.