Chan, Head of Metadata Services at University of Toronto Libraries, Emily Drabinski, Interim Chief Librarian at the Graduate Centre, City University of New York, and Dr Diane Pennington, Senior Lecturer in Information Science and Course Director of the MSc in Information & Library Studies at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. In a thought-provoking and wide-ranging conversation the panel discussed how metadata, classification and subject headings often negatively represent marginalised people in library catalogues. Each sharing first hand experience of work and projects that have sought to positively address and resolve those issues of representation. The festival also featured the launch event for LGBTQ+ Positive Voices – an online creative exhibition celebrating positive perspectives and experiences of LGBTQ+ people from around the world. Toni Velikova, CILIP LGBTQ+ Network Committee member, said, “I really love that this is a project that focuses on positivity. So much queer art can focus on trauma and sadness, which has a very important place, but sometimes we need to remember that queer joy exists as well.” Historian and author Norena Shopland joined us for the CILIP Cymru Wales collaborative event, “Full View: LGBTQ+ library collections on show!”, recommending approaches to already existing library collections with a queered lens. The event was a hugely engrossing, eye-opening and practically useful smorgasbord of strategies, resources and examples of ways to
highlight LGBTQ+ collections and their lives and stories, and to improve visibility and community engagement beyond Pride and LGBTQ+ History Months. Norena specialises in the history of sexual orientation and gender identity. As a presenter, she expertly shared her wealth of knowledge as she took us, like a skilful storyteller, delving into public and lesser-known collections and resources, opening up the door widely to researchers, historians, the public, and library, information and knowledge workers alike. Her call to share and promote the vast diversity of LGBTQ+ lives and experiences through the ages from our collections and to integrate facts and life stories into other mainstream histories – military, women’s, science, justice – was nothing short of inspiring, celebratory and compelling. As such, Norena’s latest book, A History of Women in Men’s Clothes, published the day after our event, will doubtlessly be another bold and challenging foray against the status quo. Amy Staniforth, CILIP Cymru Wales Relationship Manager, commented, “CILIP Cymru Wales are so proud to have been involved in the Festival of Pride and to have sponsored Norena Shopland’s session. Delivering practical tips to librarians working at the coalface, Norena turns theory into achievable practice in a really accessible way. Roll on next year’s Festival!” Towards the end of the festival we were treated to an adult storytime from Drag Prince Lord Fabulist, who held us spell-bound with well-loved fairy tales that took on an LGBTQ+ twist. And yes, in some of them, they did all live happily ever after. Delighted feedback from attendees included “Such marvellous tales of transformation and magic…”, “Wonderful storytelling…”, “What a luxury to just sit and be told stories!”
32 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL DIGITAL
And finally, in collaboration with
CILIP Yorkshire & Humberside, at the end of the festival, we heard from librarians Kerry Flett, Tom Peach, Jass Thethi, and Frank Norman, as they talked about their career paths, as well as how identifying as LGBTQ+ affected their approach to their work. Four very different personal, emotional and unique perspectives united under the Pride and LKI communities banner. Over the course of the two weeks, almost 350 tickets were booked, with a couple of sell-out events as well. CILIP LGBTQ+ Network Chair, Deborah Varenna, summed up her feelings about the Festival of Pride and Knowledge 2021: “I’m incredibly proud of the success of this festival, which is all thanks to my fellow committee members, our collaborators, speakers and performers. Feeling part of a community is important to me, and I hope we were able to give this feeling of togetherness and pride to our attendees. Thank you for celebrating Pride with us during our festival.” Now the Festival is over we are keen to run more events. LGBTQ+ events aren’t just for Pride or LGBTQ+ History Month! So please get in touch via email if you would like to collaborate with us. And don’t forget that if you’re an
LGBTQ+ person working in the LKI profession, you can join the CILIP LGBTQ+ Network for free, and you do not have to be a CILIP member to join. IP
l To join the Network visit
www.cilip.org. uk/lgbtqnetwork
l You can also contact us via cilip.
lgbtqnetwork@cilip.org.uk
l Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/ ciliplgbtq
l Find us on Facebook: www.facebook. com/ciliplgbtqnetwork
l Chat with the CILIP LGBTQ+ Network community on Discord:
https://discord.gg/ m4uG8HHUJd
July-August 2021
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