Libraries Respond: Advocating for Queer Literacy in 2025
Webinar
ALA ODLOS invites you to attend Libraries Respond: Advocating for Queer Literacy in 2025 on Thursday, June 5th, 2025 at 3pm Central Time. This panel is organized by the Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services (ODLOS). In our current climate, the attack on queer literacy has a ripple effect on our library communities through book bans, criticism on inclusive programming, and isolating members of the LGBTQ community. Join our panel discussion made up of ALA round table members that will highlight their experiences and perspectives on overcoming the challenges that LGBTQIA+ library professionals face and persevere through. In this ninety minute session, attendees will also learn from specialty related topics in a lightning round of mini-presentations led by panel members.
Our panel will be moderated by Shira Pilarski, President of ALA’s Graphic Novels & Round Table and Director-At-Large of Rainbow Round Table (RRT). Our panelists include MC Brickell (ALA 2025 Class of Emerging Leaders), Ashley McGuire (Co-Chair, RRT Israel Fishman Adult Non-Fiction Award Committee), Allison Madar (Member, Rainbow Round Table), Heath Umbreit (Advisor, ALA’s Libraries Transforming Communities), and Ricardo “Ricky” Rodriguez (Member, RRT Book Award Committee). Bios and headshots from our moderator and panelists are available to view here. We hope you will join us in hearing from our panelists on their ways to highlight and celebrate queer literacy and the LGBTQ community year-round through Pride Month and beyond.
Register for the Zoom webinar today!
Please note: this virtual event will include ASL interpretation and real time captioning. If you have additional accessible service needs to participate in this event, please reach out to diversity@ala.org with details and your best contact information
