My name is Emily, I'm a youth worker and school librarian.

Over the last couple of years, LGBTQIA+ young people have had to deal with increasing discrimination. LGBTQIA+ young people are one of the groups most at risk for mental health issues, but one of the best ways to support LGBTQIA+ young people is to provide them with books that feature LGBTQIA+ characters. This helps young people feel seen, feel less alone, and feel more valid in their identities.

However, schools and local libraries are increasingly coming under fire for providing these books to children and young people. Drag Queen Story Time events are picketed and libraries are challenged on the inclusive books they provide, and LGBTQIA+ books become more difficult for young people to access.

This is where the LGBTQIA+ Little Free Library comes in!

Using the Little Free Library model, we will be starting a mobile library stocked with inclusive books for all ages of children and young people. The library will travel to LGBT youth groups, family groups, events and anywhere LGBTQIA+ young people might be, to give children and young people the opportunity to access amazing books, with people like them, provided for free. Not only does this help promote reading among children and young people (I'm a school librarian, this is never a bad thing!!) but seeing themselves in a book means they feel represented, and less like an outsider.

What will the funding be used for?

The funding from the GoFundMe will primarily be used for books. The scheme is a library so books will be borrowed and returned, but that means that they will get quite a lot of wear and tear and will eventually need to be replaced. Some funding will also be used for other resources like storage and equipment as and when needed.