Back in February, the ECU Library released the 2SLGBTQQIA+ research guide as a way to showcase the parts of their collection dedicated to resources on Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual identities. The guide also provides ECU community members another avenue to access and search for these resources with ease.

To help us learn more about the recently launched guide, we reached out to members of the Library team who participated in its design and development. Librarian Ana Diab and Coordinator of Library Operations Emma Somers jointly answered our questions in an email exchange.

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Could you tell us about the resources that can be found in the 2SLGBTQQIA+ guide?

LIBRARY: The 2SLGBTQQIA+ guide provides a selection of resources on Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual identities, including books and graphic novels about gender identity and expression that centre trans and non-binary voices, and provide comprehensive histories and analyses of gender experiences. It also includes seminal works on queer theory, books on 2SLGBTQQIA+ art and design, databases and journals that highlight 2SLGBTQQIA+ content, and works of queer cinema.

What was the process like assembling the guide and how long did it take?

LIBRARY: We have been working on expanding this area of the collection for a while to include better and more diverse representation of 2SLGBTQQIA+ experience and creators. The guide was put together over the course of a few weeks and involved an assessment of what we have in the collection, mapping out the layout, and adding design elements and resources. We never consider the guides finished, since we are always adding new resources to the collection and we want to be flexible and thoughtful about how the resources are displayed and organized.

Were there any challenges to the process?

LIBRARY: The main challenge was deciding how to put together resources about such a broad spectrum of identities without reducing it to a single theme or erasing/leaving out significant works, voices or experiences. There are definitely gaps in the content that we are hoping to resolve through ongoing collection development.

Could you tell us more about the interactive component to the guide (“Who are your favourite 2SLGBTQQIA+ artists and designers?”) and what your hopes are for it?

LIBRARY: This is meant to invite students, staff and faculty at ECU to tell us about their research interests. The more we know about what inspires you and what you want to study, the more relevant we can make the collection to your interests. We love it when students and faculty bring forward their suggestions for acquisitions for the collection. We like the idea of collaborative thinking and brainstorming about needed library materials.

Are there other ways people can provide suggestions?

LIBRARY: We also take suggestions for purchases through this form, or people can make recommendations in person. We try to be very responsive to the requests from our community and balance that by knowing that the most vulnerable and historically silenced folks may not be making requests. We have multiple ways people can make suggestions with the hope that it creates more equity in the collection.

Why was it important for the library to create this guide?

LIBRARY: We know that it matters to students that 2SLGBTQQIA+ folks are represented and taught within courses at the university. There has been a historical erasure of queer and trans people. We hope that this guide will also be useful to faculty as they build their course resources. Representation matters.

Is there anything else you would like people to know about the guide?

LIBRARY: This guide is really inspired by our Emily Carr community. We have such amazing and wonderful students here who really do lead us at the library. It is inspiring to see people able to express themselves and be who they truly are, and we want everyone to be able to see their experiences reflected in the collection.

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If you’re in need of help related to health, counselling, food, accessibility, academic advising or other types of help, the 2SLGBTQQIA+ Guide also includes a list of important resources and services to support you.

For research guides centred on other topics and themes, such as one that focuses on Indigenous topics or celebrates Black Creators, you can find them all on this page.