Image 1: Janna Carleson at the library in Brandbergen. Image 2: Rainbow flag. Image 3: Rainbow shelf and book recommendation table.

The Brandbergen Library – an LGBTQ-certified library

September 9, 2019

Modern Barndom No. 3/19, which focuses heavily on children and libraries, will soon be available. In it, you will meet Kanini, the library in Malmö that children themselves helped create, and Carnita Molida, one of five drag queens in the norm-creative story time "Among Dragons and Drag Queens." However, you can already get a sneak peek here. Meet Janna Carleson at the school and public library in Brandbergen, who has been working for four years to get the library LGBTQ-certified.

Rainbow Week in Haninge has the slogan: "We stand up for everyone's right to define themselves and their lives, who they want to be and who they want to love." At the library in Brandbergen, rainbow flags can be seen everywhere. Some are extra decorations in honor of the week. On doors and shelves, there are questions for a quiz, and right by the circulation desk, there is a book recommendation table in honor of Lesbian Day of Visibility. Other flags, such as the one in the form of a large rug, are always on display at the library.

During the week, the libraries in Haninge and Haninge Kulturhus have been LGBTQ-certified by RFSL (the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Rights). Janna Carleson works at the library in Brandbergen and has been a driving force in this issue.

We started talking about it about four years ago. Initially, we visited Hallonbergen Library, which was one of the first libraries to be certified. We did the math and came to the conclusion that we couldn't afford it at the time. Instead, we did what we could with the resources we had. We got a rainbow shelf, started thinking about it when we bought books, and worked on various issues. These could be: What does LGBTQ representation look like in our social media? Or: How do we express ourselves in text? 

In connection with the government's "Strengthened Libraries" initiative in 2018, libraries in the municipality – in Brandbergen, Handen, Jordbro, and Västerhaninge – jointly applied for funding.

– And then we got support for it and were able to start the training! 

Being an LGBTQ-certified library means that all staff have completed four training sessions with RFSL, and that they have committed to ensuring that temporary staff and all other personnel also receive training. In addition, the libraries have developed an action plan.

We have been part of a working group that included myself and representatives from other libraries. Together with other staff who have completed the training, we have identified various areas that need to be developed, and how. Everyone has had a say. It has been about where we are now, where we want to go, and what problems we see. We have now formulated a five-year plan for how the work will continue, and after that we will need to be recertified.

Janna explains that the goals involve having a number of program items per year, in addition to Rainbow Week, that represent LGBTQ issues.

"It's also about all libraries having a common approach. Reviewing how safe the premises are," says Janna Carleson, continuing:

– And things like working to develop an image bank so that we have access to images of rainbow families, for example. That's something I think is important.

The library in Brandbergen is the only library in the municipality that serves as both a school and public library. The school and library buildings are connected, and on certain days and at certain times, the library is only open to the school. Brandbergen School is a K-9 school, and many preschools book visits to the library. The target group is broad, and Janna emphasizes how important LGBTQ certification is for them in particular. 

It is easier to reach children now and explain that this is not strange than when they are 35 years old. And we know that there are LGBTQ young people at the school. For us, it's important that they know the library is a place where they are represented. But also because this is a school in an area that is socioeconomically difficult. It can be quite chaotic, which means that teachers may not have a lot of resources to devote to talking about LGBTQ issues at school. We want to help with what we can, to show another alternative.

Janna Carleson explains that they have gradually increased the visibility of LGBTQ symbols, such as rainbow flags, in the library environment. It has not been entirely straightforward. When the large rainbow rug was purchased, it sparked a discussion among some children about why it should take up so much space.

Just as there are LGBTQ youth, there are also those who have been exposed to problematic views.

The staff has chosen not to display the rainbow symbol on the spines of the books, something that is sometimes found in libraries. In addition, the rainbow shelf is located next to the video games.

"It's definitely not because it's something to be ashamed of, but because everyone should be able to tell their story on their own terms. If they're not ready, they can pretend they're watching video games, and they can borrow books without having to advertise it."

The week before Rainbow Week, which was held for the second time this year and has been decided to be an annual tradition, RFSL approved the action plan developed by the libraries.

"Even though I may have been the one to push the issue, everyone on the staff is interested," says Janna Carleson. "And if we hadn't had a manager who supported us, we wouldn't have gotten LGBTQ certification. It requires everyone to be on board."

Text: Elin Mellerstedt

Image: Elin Mellerstedt and Unsplash

ABOUT LGBTQ CERTIFICATION

LGBTQ is an umbrella term for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer expressions and other identities. In Sweden, since 2008, businesses can undergo training at RFSL (the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Rights) and become LGBTQ-certified.

"The key words for RFSL certification are sustainability and long-term thinking. By getting LGBTQ certification for your business, you'll get the tools you need to work systematically with equal treatment, respect, and human rights."

The living conditions of LGBTQ people, norms related to gender and sexuality, and what it means to treat people with LGBTQ competence are important aspects of the certification process, which takes place over approximately five months. In addition to focusing on and examining grounds for discrimination and how norms interact, the training also provides a historical perspective on how laws and rights have changed. To a certain extent, it is adapted based on the conditions of different operations.

Many different types of organizations, such as municipalities, youth clinics, recreation centers, hospitals, preschools, and schools, choose to become LGBTQ-certified. At the time of writing, there are six certified preschools in Sweden (and a number of open preschools): Uddens preschool in Luleå, Håsta preschool in Norrtälje municipality, and Nicolaigården preschool, Egalia, Zinkens preschool Pysslingen, and Långholmens preschool Pysslingen in Stockholm. Modern Barndom No. 1/18 features a report on one of the preschools, Nicolaigården in Gamla Stan, which has twenty years of experience in gender education and norm-critical work.