Developing a collection around transgender life-writing at Senate House Library, University of London
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/CC-10-2022-0035 |
| Published date | 17 March 2023 |
| Date | 17 March 2023 |
| Pages | 94-98 |
| Author | Amy Leahy |
Developing a collection around transgender
life-writing at Senate House Library,
University of London
Amy Leahy
Senate House Library, University of London, London, UK
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this case study is to document the process of building a collection of works around transgender life-writing, following the
identification of a significant gap in the existing collections.
Design/methodology/approach –This case study describes and evaluates a collection development project undertaken at Senate House Li brary,
University of London. After evaluating four comparable case studies, guidelines were developed for acquisitions to the collection, based on subject,
conservation needs and financial expense.
Findings –Twenty items were selected for the collection, dating from 1933 to 2015, including books and magazines in multiple languages. The
items acquired for the collection push back against the genre’s traditional preoccupation with transition. Writers describe their expe riences as a
racing driver and fighter pilot (Roberta Cowell), an NGO director (A. Revathi), a Buddhist monk (Michael Dillon), a professional tennis player and
ophthalmologist (Ren
ee Richards), and a travel writer, journalist and mountaineer (Jan Morris).
Research limitations/implications –Challenges included setting the scope of the collection, and questions around the cataloguing and
arrangement of materials.
Practical implications –Items acquired for the collection entered the library separately and were processed individually by the library’s cataloguing
team as they arrived. Several issues arose during this stage of the project.
Social implications –To serve the needs of library users effectively, it is necessary to analyse the imbalances in collections as a routine practice.
Originality/value –The case study is original in focusing on a comparably small project with larger implications for the user experience and
inclusivity of a library and its collections.
Keywords Collection development, Acquisitions, Memoir, Inclusivity, Life-writing, Transgender collections
Paper type Case study
Background
The impetus for this collection development projectarose from the
2018 exhibition season Rights for Women: London’sPioneersintheir
Own Words, at Senate House Library, University of London. This
engagement programme included talks and debates, a monthly
film club, walking tours and a small exhibition. The exhibition
drew attention to 50 pioneering women associated with London or
the University of London, from the past 300 years.
Although the season was successfulin engaging usersand the
public, it also drew attention to the library’s dearth of material
on the experience of transgender women. None of the women
featured in the exhibition identified as transgender, and one of
the items that was initially exhibited contained material that
transgender readers and reviewers had previously noted to be
exclusionary and demeaning (Moore, 2015). As a result, the
exhibition was in many ways not a welcoming or inclusivespace
for transgender staff, students or members of the public,
despite the university’s public commitments to equality and
inclusivity.
Staff Collection Development Scheme
One reason given for this gap in the exhibition was the lack of
material on pioneering transgender women available in the
library’s collections. In this context, I made an application to
the library’s Staff Collection Development Scheme to develop
the library’s collections on transgender life-writing. The Staff
Collection Development Scheme is a library initiative that
began in 2017 and aims to provide an opportunityfor staff who
are not otherwise involvedin the library’s acquisitionprocess to
develop a small collectionaround a theme related to the current
engagement season. The initial budget for these projects is
£500, with which staff select and purchase items themselves.
The staff involved receive training in selection and acquisition
procedures, as well as the opportunity to develop a collection
around their chosentheme.
Terminology
It is necessary to define some terminology used in this case
study [1]. “Transgender”(or“Trans”) is:
The current issue and full text archiveof this journal is available on Emerald
Insight at: https://www.emerald.com/insight/2514-9326.htm
Collection and Curation
42/3 (2023) 94–98
© Emerald Publishing Limited [ISSN 2514-9326]
[DOI 10.1108/CC-10-2022-0035]
Received 21 October 2022
Revised 19 February 2023
Accepted 23 February 2023
94
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