Supporting Trans People in Libraries by Stephen G. Krueger

Author:Stephen G. Krueger
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781440867064
Publisher: ABC-CLIO

TRAINING EMPLOYEES

General Education

While some library employees may bring their own experience and knowledge about inclusive practices, this cannot be assumed to be the case for everyone. It is the responsibility of the employer to make sure that everyone has at least the training necessary to practice whatever policies of inclusion the library has. Start with Safe Zone training or something similar; this provides attendees with general information on LGBTQ+ identities and some of the challenges we face. Contact your campus or local LGBTQ+ Center or equivalent, if one exists; they may offer trainings or know where you can find a trainer. Gender inclusion training can be more difficult to find, but that is a good idea if it is possible. The needs and experiences of trans and gender variant people sometimes overlap but are often very different from those of other LGBTQ+ people, so it is valuable to devote time to those identities in particular. Both Safe Zone and gender inclusion trainings are important because they ensure at least a basic level of knowledge; they also partly remove the burden of educating others from your LGBTQ+ employees.

All library employees, ideally including security and volunteers, should participate, as everyone interacts with LGBTQ+ patrons and coworkers (if anyone argues that this is not relevant to their work, it is probably an indicator that they need it most). If you are a particularly small library and cannot afford the cost on your own, reach out to other departments or local businesses and see if people want to participate in a combined training. Some organizations or individuals offer train-the-trainer sessions; send employees to this if you get the chance, as then you will have someone in-house who can work with other library staff as needed. Because of the ongoing changes in how people express their identities, offer the trainings at least every few years to avoid outdated information; this also ensures that new employees do not miss them.

When you offer these general trainings for your employees, you must arrange it so that everyone can attend. This may require flexibility in scheduling or offering multiple sessions. If you schedule them outside of work hours, compensate attendees accordingly. If you need to travel to a different location, make sure that everyone has a way to get there. Research any models you have for other required training, such as workplace safety or Title IX, and see if you can adapt that. If there is no way for all employees to attend (such as if you cannot afford multiple sessions and need the library to remain open while they happen), supply any who cannot attend with print or digital versions of the information. It is a good idea to have informal follow-up discussions, especially if you attended a session that was not just for the library. Here, your employees can share their thoughts and ask questions if they did not feel comfortable doing so before. This is also a good way for anyone who missed the training to catch up.

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