Your public library is here with books, resources, and experiences that can help us connect and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. Titles we suggest More to explore Reading lists for kids From your digital library *The Advocate is now part of Out magazine (new standalone issues of The Advocate are no longer available). Upcoming events For all … Read more
By Hal, Rainbow Services Librarian As the summer approaches, so does Pride Month. In the United States and many other countries around the world, we celebrate Pride during June in honor of the Stonewall Uprising of 1969. Nowadays, communities throughout the world celebrate Pride Month with parades of rainbows and glitter. These parades began as … Read more
Held each year on March 31, Transgender Day of Visibility (TDoV) celebrates the lives and accomplishments of transgender and nonbinary people. Trans advocate Rachel Crandall founded TDoV in 2010 because stories in the media about transgender and nonbinary people so often focus only on violence. As legislation across the country continues to target and discriminate … Read more
Interested in facilitating conversations about self-expression and gender identity? Check out these two Discovery Kits about pronouns designed to help kids explore self-expression through play. Playing With Pronouns kit The Wellness & Life Skills: Playing With Pronouns kit includes the books They, She, He, Easy as ABC and What Are Your Words? and a game … Read more
This November 13-19, we celebrate Transgender Awareness Week, an annual event dedicated to educating our communities about the lives of transgender people. Transgender Awareness Week takes place in the week leading up to Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20)—a day set aside to recognize each life lost during the year to transphobic violence around the … Read more
Sharing your identity with friends, family, and community should be empowering and affirming, but for LGBTQIA+ young people, coming out is often scary rather than a moment of celebration. According to the 2023 National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Young People, fewer than 40% of LGBTQ young people found their home to be … Read more
By Hal, Rainbow Services Librarian This year, our theme for kids summer reading is Adventure Begins at Your Library. Reading books, trying out something new in a Discovery Kit, or attending a library event can all be adventures. I think the best adventures teach us more about ourselves and those around us. June 1 is … Read more
By Hal, Rainbow Services Librarian Developing accurate and affirming language to name the parts of our bodies and understanding how bodies change as we age is an important skill for young people to learn. Not only is it a matter of physical health, but it also provides young people with better tools to advocate for … Read more
In November, please join us for two adult programs focused on trans and nonbinary identities. As a Library for Everyone, we believe that offering programs like these are a necessary component of us striving to be an anti-racist and equitable organization. Trans & Non-Binary 101 & Allyship Workshop Do you want to better understand trans … Read more
By Hal, Rainbow Services Librarian Find Your Voice was the theme of this year’s summer reading program. Although summer reading is coming to an end, finding your voice is a lifelong journey. Creative self-expression through collaborative storytelling and imaginative play experiences like tabletop roleplaying games are a fun way to discover your voice and share … Read more
By Hal, Rainbow Services Librarian What does it mean to “Find Your Voice“? When I think about our theme for summer reading this year, I imagine a celebration of self-expression. We can use our voices to make music, to stand up for what we believe in, and to share who we are. Pride Month is … Read more
By Hal, Rainbow Services Librarian Did you know? Illinois is one of only seven states with an inclusive curriculum bill that ensures students in public schools learn about LGBTQ+ and their contributions as part of their history curriculum. In their published survey results from 2021 (pdf), GLSEN found that inclusive curriculums have a positive impact … Read more
By Hal, Rainbow Services Librarian Pride is more than a month of rainbows and parades. Our celebration of Pride month comes from a history of protest for liberation for LGBTQ+ people. Learn about LGBTQ+ activists Explore a new virtual tutorial: Trans Youth Town Hall The same fight for liberation continues today. Transgender and nonbinary youth … Read more
By Hal, Rainbow Services Librarian March 31 is Transgender Day of Visibility (TDoV). Founded in 2009 by Rachel Crandall, Transgender Day of Visibility celebrates the resilience and accomplishments of transgender and nonbinary people. Back in November, we shared books and resources about gender identity. This time, in honor of TDoV, let’s explore some books written … Read more
By Hal, Rainbow Services Librarian It’s Transgender Awareness Week, an annual event dedicated to educating our communities about the lives of transgender people. Transgender Awareness Week is celebrated every year during the week leading up to Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20), a day set aside to recognize each life lost during the year to … Read more
