Restriction of Access

“Restricted Access” is a scary term for many, as so much information is available in today’s technologically advanced world. Restricted access in a library? That is a concept that seems improbable at best. However, access issues—especially in regards to restricted access to library materials—can be described as restriction by the library through censorship or not offering certain materials that they have considered to be offensive. Likewise, in the realm of access issues is the other side of restriction, which is restricting access of the materials found in the library from certain people or groups of people (Rubin, 2016). Access issues for the LGBT community is still an issue, even in 2016. This seems unlikely considering the immense evolution of society’s overall attitudes towards LGBT individuals. It seems even more unlikely due to the fact that the American Library Association passed in 1993 (and revised in 2008) the “Access to Library Resources and Services Regardless of Sex, Gender Identity, Gender Expression or Sexual Orientation” policy (American Library Association, 2008). This policy states that LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) individuals have a right to the library’s information and services as well as access to materials containing LGBT subject matter.

Related Works

  • ACLU pressures districts to ease Internet filtering. (2012). Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom, 61(1), 5-43. Retrieved from http://jproxy.lib.ecu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&d b=llf&AN=78023227&site=ehost-live
  • American Library Association. (2008). Access to Library Resources and Services Regardless of Sex, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, or Sexual Orientation. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/accesslibrary
  • Day, S. (2013). Libraries as LGBTIQ Venues. Gay & Lesbian Issues & Psychology Review, 9(1), 46-50. Retrieved from http://jproxy.lib.ecu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&d b=qth&AN=90591572&site=ehost-live
  • Dunford, H. (2011). Serving LGBTIQ library and archives users: Essays on outreach, service and access. Australian Library Journal, 60(4), 377-378. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.jproxy.lib.ecu.edu/docview/911434574?accountid=10639
  • Federal Communications Commission. (2016). Children's Internet Protection Act. Retrieved from https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/childrens-internet-protection-act
  • Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT). (n.d.). Retrieved November 15, 2016, from http://www.ala.org/glbtrt/
  • Hughes-Hassell, S., Overberg, E., & Harris, S. (2013). Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ)-Themed Literature for Teens: Are School Libraries Providing Adequate Collections?. School Library Research, 161-18. Retrieved from http://jproxy.lib.ecu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=qth&AN=85514213&site=ehost-live
  • Lupien, P. (2007). GLBT/Sexual Diversity Studies Students and Academic Libraries: A Study of User Perceptions and Satisfaction. Canadian Journal Of Information & Library Sciences, 31(2), 131-147. Retreived from http://jproxy.lib.ecu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&d b=qth&AN=36234765&site=ehost-live
  • Mehra, B., & Braquet, D. (2011). Progressive LGBTQ reference: coming out in the 21st century. Reference Services Review, 39(3), 401-422. doi:10.1108/00907321111161403
  • Moss, E. (2008). An inductive evaluation of a public library GLBT collection. Collection Building, 27(4), 149-156. doi:10.1108/01604950810913715
  • Oltmann, S. (2015). Variables Related to School Media Center LGBT Collections. Libri: International Journal Of Libraries & Information Services, 65(1), 25-33. doi: 10.1515/libri-2014-0069
  • Pierce Garry, C. (2015). Selection or Censorship? School Librarians and LGBTQ Resources. School Libraries Worldwide, 21(1), 73-90. doi: 10.14265.21.1.005
  • Rubin, R. E. (2016). Foundations of Library and Information Science (4th ed.). Chicago: ALA Neal-Schuman, an imprint of the American Library Association.
  • Storts-Brinks, K. (2010). Censorship Online: One School Librarian's Journey to Provide Access to LGBT Resources. Knowledge Quest, 39(1), 22-28. Retrieved from http://jproxy.lib.ecu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&d b=llf&AN=502999432&site=ehost-live
  • Williams, V. g., & Deyoe, N. n. (2015). LGBTQ Titles in Academic Library Youth Collections. Library Resources & Technical Services, 59(2), 62-71. Retreived from http://jproxy.lib.ecu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&d b=llf&AN=102629829&site=ehost-live