The Swedish library law states that libraries are for everyone, but in order to accomplish this libraries have to actively work to prevent discrimination, and to promote inclusion.
In Sweden it is possible to certify your workplace by undergoing training provided by a non-government organisation named RFLS[1], or to receive a diploma by undergoing training provided by some other organisation. It is also possible to undergo shorter individual training provided by RFSL, however RFSL is the only organisation in Sweden which holds the right to issue a certification nationwide while some regions may offer their own certification/diploma to libraries, and other government agencies.
There are currently 26 certified libraries in Sweden, 15 of these are situated in Stockholm county. In order to give some perspective there are over 1000 public libraries in Sweden, including integrated libraries i.e. school, and public libraries. The LGBTQ+ training means that a library has received extensive training on issues related to sexual, and gender identity as well as on living conditions of LGBTQ+ people.
This article will present six different libraries, and their approach to LGBTQ+ issues, and staff education. The order of libraries is arranged from South to North, and is listed as follows: Lund public library, Gothenburg public library, Värmdö public library, Täby public library, Västerbotten county library, and Dorotea public library. I will be using the term LGBTQ+ for the sake of consistency even though certification given by the non-government organisation RFSL is titled LGBTQI.[2]
Lund public library, interview with Eleonor Pavlov
Lund is a town located in the south of Sweden in the province called Skåne, and it has a population of approximately 100 000 inhabitants. Lund is home to Lund University which is one of Sweden’s, and Scandinavia’s oldest universities, founded in the 17th century, which transformed Lund into a regional center for research. The library consists of the main library, and nine city branches.
Lund public library received funds from the municipality in order to conduct, and to implement LGBTQ+ certification. In order for certification to be approved it is necessary that at least 80% of staff undergo the education process. This applies to all staff employed at the library, not only librarians but also service staff like janitors, and book bus drivers.
The training spans over a few months. They started their process in August/September, and were done in May; and this is done in order to have time for discussion between lectures.
The process consisted of three lectures which lasted for three hours respectively, and dealt with the following topics: basics of the law against discimination, LGBTQ+ history, explanation of different terms (LGBTQ+), film watching that illustrate how the world is from their perspective etc.
The other part of the certification process was to form different working groups where participants could discuss, and reflect alongside lectures; writing an action plan; to include employees from different sectors. The action plan stretched three years into the future, and was to be approved by RFSL. In order for the organisation to receive LGBTQ+ certification it was mandatory to have an RFSL approved action plan, and that every employee had passed an online test.
During 2020 Lund public library underwent re-certification of its organisation. This process was very different to the original certification. One of the requirements is that every employee that was employed after the certification, must take, and pass the online course given by RFSL which is paid separately for each employee. The LGBTQ+ working group of Lund public library has also organised a few occasions for new employees where they could ask questions and discuss the topic, which were highly appreciated. They have also produced a folder with basic knowledge on LGBTQ+ which is given to new employees prior to the online education course which is given once per year.
Gothenburg public library, interview with Bodil Alvarsdotter and Lisu Asu
Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden. It is located on the west coast in southern Sweden with a population over one million. Gothenburg municipality has 27 libraries, two bookmobiles, and a couple of pop-up libraries. This means that some of the libraries have done certification and some did not, though most libraries are doing some kind of LGBTQ+ work. This interview was conducted with Bodil Alvarsdotter, a children and youth library advisor at Gothenburg municipality; and Lisu Asu, youth librarian at the culture house Kåken[3]. Bodil talked about the work that libraries in Gothenburg do for children and adults, e.g. rainbow shelves, workshops, events and their participation at the Europride 2018.
Gothenburg is a unique example in Sweden because it is the only city that has a LGBTQ+ council. The purpose is to ensure the human rights of LGBTQ+ people. Meetings are held once a year where everyone including the general public are welcome to leave a suggestion or comment on developing Gothenburg into a more open, and inclusive city. The council consists of 19 members where 6 are representing political parties in the municipal board, and 13 are representing LGBTQ+ Gothenburg.
The rainbow shelf is a symbol for equality, equity and human rights. At Gothenburg city library they believe that it is important that everyone feels represented. In order to represent everyone they created the rainbow shelf where you can find books about all types of people. Gothenburg library started having rainbow shelves six years ago, and currently 24 libraries have some form of the rainbow shelf, some of them aimed only at children, and youth.
Gothenburg was the co-host of Europride summer of 2018. Gothenburg library participated with its rainbow library for children, youth, and parents. Visitors could borrow books regarding guiding through the heteronormative world of literature; attends workshops, seminars, live podcasts; get to see, and meet well-known LGBTQ+ people, book exchange, storytelling etc. The children and youth librarians have received some form of LGBTQ+ training arranged by Gothenburg municipality, and RFSL as preparation for Europride.
The culture house Kåken is LGBTQ+ certified since 2015, and has started the process of recertification in 2019. There are fourteen people working at the library, and four of them are part of the LGBTQ+ work group. They have a rainbow shelf which is visible from the entrance of the library which sends a clear signal to patrons. Their action plan written during the LGBTQ+ certification process includes the following: reoccurring public events, meeting place for rainbow families, reading group for young adults, minimum one LGBTQ+ training for staff per term, forum for the staff where they can discuss situations that have come up in contact with patrons, visitors and other members of the staff, reviewing the library program from norm critical point of view, LGBTQ+ recommendation flyer which is published two times per year.
Yearly competence development discussion with the library director regarding LGBTQ+ development process will be included in the future. When the library is recruiting new staff the library clearly states that the library is LGBTQ+ certified.
Värmdö public library by Sofia Larsson Lindqvist
Värmdö municipality is a small island located east of Stockholm with 45 000 inhabitants. Värmdö public library consists of one main library with tree branch libraries whereof two offer open+ hours.[4]
At the start of our LGBTQ+ project there was a lot of enthusiasm, and the head of the library showed support for the project. The process was shared with a local youth art centre, and the work group consisted of members from the library, and the art centre. After two days of training with RFSL for all employees, the work group continued together with the educator to put forward an action plan, thus being rewarded with a diploma.
Using norm criticism, we examined every part of our respective activities: How we promoted ourselves in words, and pictures. How we communicated verbally with colleagues and patrons. We searched for hidden gender binary structures.
We created Rainbow shelves and held LGBTQ+ themed programs in the library. We promoted the certification in local media. The work group was determined to follow the action plan, and did so successfully for a few years. If one thing did not work, we tried another.
As the years went by, the project started to lose momentum. The art centre lost its funding, and space which resulted in it being shut down. Two of the library’s original members of the work group resigned from Värmdö public library to work elsewhere. For a while, I was the only person in the group swamped with work, and felt I had less support for the project.
Two new members later joined the group. When we renewed the certificate in 2019, we felt some much needed new enthusiasm. In the spring of 2020 I resigned from Värmdö to start working for Täby library. Soon another member of the group resigned as well, leaving the last member as a one person group, swamped with work.
The process of receiving LGBTQ+ certification is a thrilling experience. Much time and thought is invested. The challenge is to keep it running, through organizational changes especially during hectic times when many other projects need your time and attention.
Täby public library by Tamara Laketic Karlsson
Täby is a municipality situated in the Stockholm region and thirty kilometers north of Stockholm. The public library of Täby consists of one main library with an additional five branch libraries serving approximately its 70 000 inhabitants. There are thirty one people employed which includes management roles.
The decision to establish a LGBTQ+ working group was conceded during the autumn of 2018; with the aim to create a rainbow-shelf for each library; as well as creating LGBTQ+ related events. Täby public library received a small funding for LGBTQ+ staff training. The library decided to partake in a course given by the RFSL. The training course was divided into two parts. The first part took place in March 2021 of a duration of three hours. During this time we covered basics in LGBTQ+ history, knowledge, terms, and norm-critical perspectives with immersion in the Discimination Act, and its active measures. The second part took place two months later (May 2021). During the two hour long workshop we focused on norm-critical perspective, interactive exercises and discussion. Intersectionality, tolerance, privileges, minority stress, and treatment were mentioned as well.
The course did not result in any diploma nor certification, but it served as a basic education for staff in future contact with the LGBTQ+ patrons.
The LGBTQ+ working group will continue this work with the first task being to write guidelines for everyday work at the Täby public library.
Västerbotten county library, interview with Christer Edeholt
Västerbotten county is located in northern Sweden, and being sparsely populated it has only 270 000 inhabitants. Västerbotten county library is situated in the city Umeå and their work is focused on continuous development, and collaboration between public libraries. The goal is to strengthen the role of the library as a force for democracy, active involvement, and diversity. The library is responsible for the promotion of reading as well as for the county’s three hospital libraries.
Västerbotten county library organised LGBTQ+ training which resulted in a diploma for all libraries in the county. The training was carried out by Helena Gard, health advisor, and Christer Edeholt, library advisor with the support of Västerbotten county. The training is free of charge for the public sector, being funded by the public health agency.
The training wants the participants to obtain knowledge of LGBTQ+ people’ living situations, consequences of heteronormative society, and applying the gained knowledge in everyday work. The pilot project was initiated in 2015 at the youth health agency Umeå. The purpose of the training is to start structured, and long-term work on LGBTQ+ issues, societal norms and equality in the county’s sectors, including perspectives from patients to work environment, and agencies.
Dorotea public library by Karin Råghall
Dorotea municipality is located in Västerbotten County in northern Sweden, around 600 kilometers north from Stockholm. The whole municipality counts approximately 2 500 inhabitants whilst Dorotea population center har around 1 700 people. Dorotea public library has an integrated public and school library serving the whole municipality of Dorotea.
The Västerbotten County offered Dorotea library to participate in LGBTQ- training that would result in a diploma. The staff received an online education covering fundamentals on LGBTQ+ terms, norms in society, and LGBTQ+ history followed by a two day workshop. The workshop consisted of developing an LGBTQ+ action plan; reflecting on how we treat our LGBTQ+ users; what language we use; producing a book or film recommendation for the digital rainbow shelf.
The workshop covered topics such as the living conditions, health of LGBTQ+ people, and societal norms. The workshop also included information regarding LGBTQ+ organisations as well excersises on how to deal with discrimination, and LGBTQ+-phobia.
There are four employees at Dorotea public library, and they work close together which means that they all need to engage themselves in order to develop their work to achieve good results. The group functioned very well during the training, and the interest in LGBTQ+ issues has risen. The group noticed that there are some gaps in their knowledge, and that they need to keep on learning continuously regarding these issues. They have started to have recurring LGBTQ+ meetings where they share new things that they have learned. The action plan developed by Dorotea public library is a rather ambitious one proposing not only how to make the library more inclusive, and accessible to LGBTQ+ users, but also trying to animate other municipality branches to take LGBTQ+ issues seriously.
The library received both positive, and negative responses from patrons. We have met young patrons that wanted to ‘borrow the whole shelf’, but we have also met students that mocked the rainbow shelf, and its content. We have heard that some students get mocked if they walk over to the rainbow shelf when they are there on a class visit. This leads to students coming in after school in order to avoid being mocked or bullied. We have established connections with local LGBTQ+ people. Some patrons are irritated, and upset because of our rainbow pins. Our LGBTQ+ work has been questioned by municipal politicians. We see these reactions as proof that our work is important,and very relevant. It means that we have to continue to develop, and strengthen our work regarding LGBTQ+ issues. In the future we want to strengthen our cooperation with schools among others. One of the most important lessons that we learned from the LGBTQ+ diploma was that it is ongoing work that will never end. We will have to work with it continuously. One factor in order to reach success is for the staff to continue to be engaged in these issues. We will need to be able to stand for our work regardless of what people or politicians might think.
This was just a few examples from public libraries in Sweden and it does not represent all the libraries but it is merely a few examples meant to inspire and enlighten. I would like to thank my colleagues for helping me with this post by agreeing to be a part of this project, and for being patient. Thank you to Eleonor Pavlov, Karin Råghall, Sofia Larsson Lindqvist, Bodil Alvarsdotter, Lisu Asu, Christer Edeholt, Tove Lillequist, Karolina Karlsson and Täby public library director Malin Törnquist for the support I have received with my IFLA engagement.
Tamara Laketic Karlsson
Librarian at Täby public library
[1] Riksförbundet för homosexuellas, bisexuellas, transpersoners, queeras och intersexpersoners rättigheter ( The Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Rights)
[2] https://www.rfsl.se/en/lgbtq-facts/lgbtq/
[3] https://goteborg.se/wps/portal/enhetssida/kulturhuset-kaken
IFLA LGBTQ Users 