Places for all? Cape Town's public library services to gays and lesbians

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dc.contributor.authorHart, Genevieve
dc.contributor.authorMfazo, Ncumisa
dc.date.accessioned09/09/2011 06:50
dc.date.available09/09/2011 06:50
dc.date.issued2010
dc.description.abstractThe article reports on an investigation of the provision of gay and lesbian literature and of information services to gays and lesbians in Cape Town�s public libraries. Although by definition public libraries serve all members of a community, the international literature suggests that they neglect the reading and information needs and interests of gays and lesbians. The progressive South African Constitution views the rights of gays and lesbians as human rights; yet homophobia is prevalent. Using a questionnaire, the study explored attitudes and practices of 69 senior librarians, responsible for collection development, across all six of Cape Town�s library districts. The situation was found to be �spotty� with only 26 respondents believing that their library service is meeting the needs of gays and lesbians. The survey found contradictions between stated beliefs and behaviours. Thus, although most agree that LGBT rights to information and equal services are human rights, only 55% consider LGBT people in their selection procedures and very little material is acquired. Information services are thin with, for example, only 10% of the libraries in the survey providing LGBT related information in their community information files.en_US
dc.identifier.citationHart, G. and Mfazo, N. (2010). Places for all? Cape Town's public library services to gays and lesbians. South African Journal of Libraries & Information Science, 76(2): 81-90en_US
dc.identifier.issn0256-8861
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10566/251
dc.inquiriesghart@uwc.ac.za
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.privacy.showsubmitterTRUE
dc.publisherLibrary and Information Association of South Africaen_US
dc.rightsCopyright Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA), 2010. Permission was granted for display of this file under terms of non-commercial use.
dc.status.ispeerreviewedTRUE
dc.subjectPublic librariesen_US
dc.subjectInformation servicesen_US
dc.subjectPublic librariansen_US
dc.subjectCollection developmenten_US
dc.subjectLesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered peopleen_US
dc.subjectCape Townen_US
dc.titlePlaces for all? Cape Town's public library services to gays and lesbiansen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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