A Flow Chart

There are also ways to use a library without having a local one, so check that out as well! I just don't want to tell people to do that in all situations, because I don't have the details.

School libraries are also a good resource if you're in school!

"I have a local library but can't get there!" Your library may have online resources. I was able to get a card for one of my local libraries totally online (yes, I'm lucky enough to have more than one local library) without going in person at all. Their branches aren't close to me, despite me being in it's range, so I ONLY use their online resources.

BUT. If you are in the U.S. (and maybe elsewhere, but I can only speak to here), please check your local library first.

Libraries thrive on stats. Not just like, vibes or community goodwill—actual measurable usage. That means how many materials are checked out, how many digital logins, audiobook downloads, database clicks, etc. And those numbers? They get dragged into budget meetings.

When local politicians or city officials or whoever sit down and go “hmm, does this library need funding?” they don’t pull out heartwarming testimonials from patrons—they pull out spreadsheets. They look at circulation stats and go “well I guess the library isn’t that necessary if only 800 people checked out books last month.” Even if 1,000 people sat in the AC during a heat wave or used the Wi-Fi to file for unemployment.

So

Need a book? Check your library catalog.

Want an audiobook or eBook? Look into apps like Libby or Hoopla—tons of libraries have digital access for free.

Got a weird niche research question? Use your library’s online databases, I promise it makes the reference librarians SO happy.

Can't find what you’re looking for? Ask about interlibrary loans.

Libraries often have partnerships with other libraries—mine, for example, is connected to both all the other branches in the county and the local community college. That means if a nearby library in the system has the thing you’re after, they’ll just send it over, usually within a few days. It’s like secret bonus inventory. Magic.

Want to watch a movie or try a new game? Some libraries even stock DVDs and video games—my local one has started carrying Nintendo Switch games.

Basically, using your library = direct support. It’s one of the few public institutions left that runs on community use rather than profit, and they are constantly under threat of being cut, censored, or gutted.

Anyway.

Libraries are cool. Use ‘em.

(there's a fascinating history of the American public library here if your interested)

I work at a library. We do this thing where, every so often, we weed the collection. It hurts to see books go, but it's necessary to make sure there's room in the library for new materials.

I have seen so much support for the library in text, and I've seen folks pass around those beautiful "queer your library" flyers. Keep doing that. That's great. Nothing wrong with that. But you HAVE to turn your words into action. We MUST remember to actually go to our local organizations and libraries and actually, with our own fucking hands, interact with these materials we want to see more of.

My branch is medium-sized for a library, maybe a little small. We don't have as many materials as I'd like, but we have fundamentals. Tell me why, even with all the verbal support I've gotten from my local community for the library as a resource for our LGBT+ community, every single trans biography and a good chunk of our vaguely queer theory books were on the list. This isn't a scheme to take the books off the shelves, it isn't another bigoted American governmental push. The only thing we look at when we weed is how long it's been since the last time the item was checked out.

Three years.

No one in my community interacted in any meaningful way with the few books on trans life and history we physically had on the shelves for three fucking years.

I promise you the materials you want and need are there, but this isn't a horde. This isn't a static safety net. You have to use them. You MUST use them or, in the future, maybe in three years, they *won't* be there anymore.

I'm also a librarian and queer books are almost always cut first when we have to weed for space or prioritize new releases over old items because no one reads them

I will say, when I worked at a large downtown location, we had a "browsing card" that we would check out items we found taken off the shelf and left on a table, as an example of a book that had clearly been read, just not checked out by anyone

it's possible queer books do actually get a bit of unfair treatment in this regard because people may be nervous or outright scared to check them out onto an account with their name on it. so they get browsed at a much higher rate, but if a library doesn't have a specific system in place (or need for it) to count browsed items, then it looks like they aren't being used and they get weeded

for other librarians, a browsing card is a great idea if you have enough staff for the extra work / enough items left out to justify it

for patrons, check out queer books even if you don't read them! you're not lying or committing any type of fraud. you're keeping books on the shelf long enough for pride season when people are interested in checking them out again and for people scared to use their own accounts or who don't have library cards

for anyone nervous about using their library card, libraries do not keep search histories of what you check out!! this means even if the government does come back with a warrant, *wet farting noise* too bad! it doesn't exist!

It feels like such a small thing, but all movements are made up of small things! We have this mindset that in order to get everything done, everyone must be doing their (or *the*) absolute best at all times. But not everyone can do the same things, to the same degree, with the same amount of productivity or success. Not everyone can; sometimes, they're the ones that need help. Sometimes people just need help.

This post is very much so intended for the people who can. I've seen a lot of replies from folks who say they don't have to (or don't think about) checking out or requesting queer books from the library specifically because they *can* buy them, can pirate them, or already have them in their house or on their computers or phones. But in instances like that, keeping these books in circulation is less for you and more for the people who can't. The folks who come to the library, who don't have access to internet--or even electricity--at home and would never--have never--been able to interact with this "ubiquitous queer community" we have here online who has made so many of these. materials so avaliable to the rest of us.

And... if I can be a little frank. Sometimes the hyperaccessibility of these materials online (through pirating, cheap e-book copies, etc) gives people a false sense of security. It implies that these things are an infinate resource, good for "When I get around to it".

And often, you won't. There's so much to read and so much to do. So much to download and so much to sit down and stare at for hours. That kind of mental scope puts books in people's hands (or phones), but never in their heads.

I live in a province that is currently trying to ban queer books from libraries, and as a library patron, this is terrifying. 95% of the books I read are from the library and a lot of them are way out of my budget to buy personally.

Making Queer History would not exist without the school library I skipped class in to write articles. It would not exist without my friends with library cards for their universities sharing them and getting me access to rare texts. I would not be able to read as much as I do without Libby and Hoopla. If I have ever given you a book recommendation, know that I likely got it from the library first.

I cannot overstate the importance of protecting libraries and checking out queer books. And I want to say thank you to everyone above for being as passionate as I am about queer books in libraries.

I only saw this photo for the first time today. This is huge for me.