Learn new methods for advocating for LGBTQIA+ people and critical thinking in your library and classroom.

Course Description 

Anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation is becoming more and more prevalent, and many states are imposing bans on LGBTQIA+ centered materials and curricula. While these laws and bans are devastating, queer theory provides a path for resisting anti-LGBTQIA+ agendas while staying within the confines of the laws/bans.
 
More than a gender identity or sexual orientation, the word “queer” can also be used as a verb: to queer. In this crash course, you will learn the foundations of how to apply a queer perspective and framework to all aspects of your work, from your programs to policies to reading and instructional practices and more. 
 
From there, you will take a deep dive into specific examples of how a queer perspective can influence your library or classroom. You will learn what it is to “read queerly,” and how this practice can be especially tenable in communities with strong censorship challenges. Reading otherwise normative books through a queer lens can provide one way to resist discriminatory policies while also encouraging new critical thinking skills. You will leave this crash course with more tools to add to your toolkit for advocating LGBTQIA+ inclusion in your classroom and library. 

The live sessions run on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 from approximately 2:00-4:00 pm ET (recorded for on-demand viewing). Don’t miss this opportunity!
 

Learning Outcomes

After you attend this interactive online course and workshop, you’ll be able to:

• Understand the foundations of queer theory 

• Apply queer theories and methods to your everyday work

• Reimagine and revise your programs and services from a queer perspective to better serve your entire communities

• Read texts ‘queerly’ to encourage critical thinking and inclusion

• Apply queer pedagogical frameworks to make your instruction more inclusive
   

Who should take this course 

Any educator or librarian who wants to learn more skills to advocate for LGBTQIA+ people and materials; anyone who wants to learn new methods for teaching and engaging in critical thinking; and any educator or librarian seeking innovative ways to resist discriminatory bans.

Live sessions are also available on demand 

Can’t make a live session? All guest speaker sessions are recorded and available on demand following the initial broadcast. Asynchronous workshops allow you to complete assignments and receive feedback from experts.

Certificate of completion provided 

2 professional development credit hours

For support with online courses, please contact libraryjournal@edmaker.co

Accessibility

All guest speaker sessions feature live captioning and are made available on demand after the initial broadcast. Please email libraryjournal@edmaker.co upon registration if you require any special accommodations and we will make our best efforts to facilitate them.

Course Curriculum Advisor

Jennifer Tullos, Ph.D. 

Dr. Jennifer Tullos (she/her) is a content developer, researcher, and educator in English and the Humanities working to advocate for equity-centered programs and practices. She holds a PhD in English from Illinois State University with an emphasis in queer young adult literature, queer theory, and pedagogy and currently serves as the Director of Online Courses for Library Journal and School Library Journal. Dr. Tullos has over 13 years of experience teaching and developing curricula in educational, nonprofit, and corporate contexts. As a queer scholar and educator, she strives to bring queer pedagogical and theoretical tenets into her everyday life and loves helping others queer their classrooms, work cultures, reading practices, and more!

Group Rates

Have a team attend and increase your impact!

Discounted registration fees are available for groups of 3 or more. When you register your team for our online courses, they will be placed in the same small workshop group, where discussions and project-based assignments receive feedback from an experienced librarian.

Send us a request for a quote.

If your group prefers to work separately, just let us know.

By registering for this event you confirm that you have read and agree to our Code of Conduct.

For support with online courses, please contact libraryjournal@edmaker.co.

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Session 1 | 2:00-2:45 pm ET

Creating Systemic Support: Tools and Strategies for LGBTQIA+ Advocacy

This session will teach you tangible ways to advocate for yourself and others in the face of LGBTQIA+ specific censorship and other discriminatory challenges. You will learn why it’s crucial to maintain alliance with LGBTQIA+ people and content, as well as ways to deescalate conflict and counter common arguments. You’ll learn how to make yourself visible as an ally and/or how to promote and protect yourself as a queer person at work. You’ll also learn how to audit and revise your current policies and procedures to create systems of support within your library or classroom. Finally, you’ll leave this session equipped with resources for LGBTQIA+ centered legal and healthcare services so that you’re prepared to support your queer community members in a range of needs.

Speaker: 

Hal Patnott, Rainbow Services Librarian

Session 2 | 2:45-2:50 EST

Informational Session about LJ/SLJ Professional Development

Interested in what’s next or how to go even deeper? This session will provide more information about our spring courses, including our 1-Day Online Course and Asynchronous Workshop, How to Build and Maintain Library Advocacy,  which will expand what you learned here. Take this opportunity to ask questions about our full roster of courses, gain transparency into our process, and give your feedback about what you’d like us to do next.

Break | 2:50-3:00 EST

Session 3 | 3:00-4:00 EST

Understanding Queer Theory and its Potential for Libraries 

More than a gender identity or sexual orientation, the word “queer” can also be used as a verb: to queer. In this session, you will learn the foundations of how to apply a queer perspective and framework to all aspects of your work, from your programs to policies to reading and instructional practices and more. You will learn what it is to “read queerly,” and how this practice can be especially tenable in communities with strong censorship challenges. You will also learn methods for “teaching queerly”: simple instructional shifts that can have a large impact on all learners. You will leave with even more tools to add to your toolkit for advocating LGBTQIA+ inclusion in your classroom and library. 

Speaker: 

Dr. Jennifer Tullos, Director of Online Courses, Library Journal and School Library Journal

Online Course Preview

A preview of how we build your library skills and bring inspiration to your projects with our online learning experience.

Course Format

Inspiring Live Guest Speakers 

Live session with Andrea Blackman and Tasneem Ansariyah Grace	Live Guest Speakers Each Week Engage with presenters via live video stream, visual presentations, and chats

Online Course Features

Recordings of guest speakers

Recordings Available After The Live Session Real-time guest speakers and conversation via live video stream (with recordings available afterward)

Early Access On Demand Resources

Early Access and Ongoing Resources To Support Learning Supporting resources in the online classroom to provide a foundation for your work Access all course content for six months after the course ends Bonus: Register early and get immediate access to archival video recordings from related courses and other bonus content