Every June, the Colby Libraries look forward to celebrating Pride Month–in memory of the Stonewall Uprisings in Manhattan–the culmination of a decades-long struggle for liberation, legal recognition and equal rights that continues to this day.  

This June, we have especially exciting news–

Max Bowman, systems librarian for the Colby Libraries, along with several of their colleagues from other institutions, have created Murmurations, a scholarly library and information science journal dedicated to:

“encourag[ing] research and discussion of trans and gender diverse topics in the library profession in order to develop and enhance policies and practices and to understand and improve the experiences of trans and gender diverse patrons, employees, and students. The journal publishes articles that address trans and gender diverse inclusion, issues, and experiences in the library profession. We are particularly interested in work that addresses trans and gender diverse topics with an intersectional lens (e.g. how queer, trans, and gender diverse oppression overlaps with anti-Blackness, racism, colonialism, ableism, classism, etc.).”

LGBTQ+ colleagues have always worked in libraries, as we know, but have not always been recognized in policies and practices–the Colby Libraries is committed to improving the experiences of trans and gender diverse patrons, employees and students. We couldn’t be more proud to celebrate our colleague Max!

Looking for more Pride-related resources?

Try one of these new books, available in Miller Library:

Designated Stranger. Gion Davis.

A soul dive and a psalm, this book spans years, states, genders, and climates as it confronts the concurrent apocalypses of being trans and poor in America. Like the designated hitter or designated driver, the trans poet is brought in to get everyone home. (from the publisher)

A queer scrapbook : Britain and Ireland since 1945. Justin Bengry, ed.

Vividly illustrates the diversity of queer and trans lives across the British and Irish isles since the Second World War (from the publisher)

Trans cinema : making communities, identities, and worlds. Laura Horak.

These filmmakers tackle the challenging paradox of representing trans lives when greater visibility is associated with ever-increasing levels of harm. In the process, they produce art that emphasizes trans survival and resilience and imagines a more expansive world for trans communities (from the publisher)

Featured Database:

Queer Pasts, a collection of primary source exhibits for students and scholars of queer history and culture. Images, interview transcripts, and so much more. 

Maine Pride Calendar: https://www.equalitymaine.org/prideguide/