IFLA’s Management and Marketing Section, in collaboration with IFLA’s LGBTQ+ Users Special Interest Group, is pleased to invite you for our upcoming satellite conference titled: ‘The Library is open’: creating safe working environments for LGBTQ+ library employees and marketing supportive LGBTQ+ services.

This event aims to explore the challenges and opportunities faced by the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and more) communities in the workplace, as well as strategies for improving diversity and inclusion in libraries.

Indeed, libraries, over the past few years, have been engaging with their LGBTQ+ staff and users and taking positive steps for everyone to feel welcome within their spaces : raise of LGBTQ+ professionals groups ; collection, services, programming developments to create environments and activities where everyone, both staff and users, can feel welcomed, acknowledged and safe.

However, in recent years, there has been a marked increase in hate speech and hate crime targeting people and organizations based on sexual orientation and gender identity and libraries have been targeted for their work with LGBTQ+ communities. This can be complex to navigate for libraries and their teams. And while libraries have improved their practice, LGBTQ+ staff still experience forms of discrimination.

Working collaboratively with the IFLA LGBTQ Users Special Interest Group, this Satellite meeting, organized by the Management and Marketing Section, aims to connect librarians, library marketers and library directors from all over the world to share knowledge and experiences to inspire us all to engage positively with LGBTQ+ library employees and visitors to create welcoming libraries for all.

We look forward to welcoming you to this exciting and thought-provoking conference.

Full details on the satellite meeting website.