library policies

Collection Development

The Library…

• prioritizes materials that represent diverse Queer identities and experiences, with an emphasis on intersectional perspectives.

• ensures a mix of genres and material types.

• actively resists censorship by maintaining an effort to collect challenged and banned materials.

• partners with Queer authors and publishers to source texts from underrepresented voices.

• partners with a Queer archival group to maintain the integrity of rare or historic items.

General circulation

*INSERT CIRCULATION GUIDELINES WHEN CIRCULATION AND CATALOGING SYSTEM IS IMPLEMENTED*

While the Library and its materials are available to all visitors of The Spectrum Center, we only permit borrowing for patrons living in the Pine Belt region. We aim to preserve the accessibility of our items for residents of our service region, and it may be more difficult for folks living outside this area to return borrowed materials. Any person visiting The Spectrum Center may remove items from the shelf to enjoy while in the building, but we request that individuals outside of our service region do not remove any materials from the building.

Privacy & confidentiality

The Library will never require information from a patron that does not align with the patron’s affirmed identity. Patron records will be maintained separately from circulation records so that patrons’ identities cannot be linked to the materials and resources the individual accesses.

community engagement

The Library will seek input from the community regarding materials and resources available through surveys or other contact initiated by patrons. Surveys will be anonymous and a suggestion box will be made available for privacy purposes.

The Library will seek to engage in partnerships with other community groups in an effort to share resources and expand reach.

Inclusive Space

The Library, as a program and resource of The Spectrum Center, is a space free from and with no tolerance for racism, transphobia, homophobia, or other harmful and discriminatory speech or behaviors against our community. Should you encounter any issues with a patron, please reach out to the staff member(s) on site. If you feel your issue is not resolved by or you are uncomfortable or otherwise unable to share your concern with the staff member(s) available, please contact The Spectrum Center staff by email or phone. Contact information is available here.

circulation of rare or unique materials

Because we are committed to the preservation of historical Queer literature, there are items in our collection that are extremely challenging to replace. Balancing accessibility and preservation is difficult, so this policy is subject to change.

The materials in our collection that have been determined to be rare, unique, or expensive are shelved separately from the general collection. At this time, these materials are not available for borrowing, but may be read and enjoyed within The Spectrum Center’s building. Please sign the book out with your name and phone number on the sheet available in the Library. This is not to keep your information documented in circulation records, but to aid us in determining who most recently borrowed the material should it accidentally be removed from the building.

We kindly ask that you wash and thoroughly dry your hands before retrieving the item from the shelf and refrain from consuming food or beverages while handling the material. Because these items are often second- or third-hand donations, there may be folds, tears, or markings within them; however, please do not bend, tear, or otherwise mark the material in any way. You are free to take notes on a separate device or paper or to photograph pages. If you would like to continue reading at a later time, you are welcome to leave a book mark holding your spot.

We understand that this policy places some restrictions on access to materials, but it does so with intentions of preservation. The policy will be reviewed regularly and updated as we see fit.

Technology and internet use

The Spectrum Center provides computer and Wi-Fi access free of charge to visitors. In alignment with our goal of supporting and uplifting our community, we encourage the use of these amenities. The Library does not track, store or share patron usage data, but we emphasize the importance of using private browsers. Please ensure you log out of personal accounts when you are finished. We prohibit the use of these amenities to promote hate speech, violence, discrimination, harassment, or to distribute non-consensual explicit materials. Please be aware that you are using this technology in a shared space when accessing private, sensitive, or graphic materials. If the Library is busy, computer sessions may be limited at staff discretion. Priority is given to patrons using the computer for job or resource searches, education, or other essential tasks. We will print essential documents (IDs, healthcare forms, job applications, pay stubs, legal forms, etc.) free of charge at all times. Printing other materials may be subject to a small fee, determined by the number of pages. We are only able to print in grayscale. We ask that patrons respect copyright laws when printing.

mature content

In our effort to provide access to Queer materials of all kinds, we possess items of mature nature, such as erotica. We shelve items of explicitly sexual, graphically violent, and highly sensitive nature separately from the full collection, but in an area that is still accessible to patrons to prevent censorship. We assume no liability for the possibility of minors accessing these materials. The minor’s guardian is solely responsible for monitoring the individual(s) in their care and reviewing what materials they view or collect.