Some members of TAAAP recently presented at the Young Adult Library Services (YALSA) conference to discuss the important ways that libraries and librarians can be inclusive and effective resources for ace and aro people. See the full presentation here: https://t.co/3Ipwct7zAe
We’ve summarized some of their fantastic points in the above graphics! Described below.
[ID: Image one reads “Library Resources. Libraries and librarians can be an amazing resource to ace and aro people of all ages, in many different ways! Members of TAAAP, with two other aspec advocates and librarians, recently developed and presented a workshop at the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Symposium talking about aspec identities, the issues we face, and how libraries can include and support our community!You can find the presentation, as well as the speaker notes, here: https://taaap.org/2021/12/02/yalsa-2021/.”
Image two reads “Library Resources. Skill Building. Libraries can host free informational workshops to teach valuable skills to aspec people and connect them with community and resources. Aspec people are marginalized, often single, and may not have or trust nuclear family for support. Workshops could teach: A community support or mutual aid network could help aspecs show up for each other to witness or notarize documents, find health care advocates, and more! How estate planning options work. How to prepare documents such as wills, living trusts, and medical directives. Digital privacy protection tools and strategies.”
Image three reads “Library Resources. Community Building. Libraries often serve as community gathering places, especially for young people! Libraries can have asexual and aromantic symbols around, explicitly include aspec orientations in identity resources, and make them prominently available to help people learn about them and help aspecs feel included. Libraries can be a great place for an aspec community group and mutual aid networks to organize or meet. Libraries can connect people to local aspec groups, if possible - check out https://acesandaros.org/groups.”
Image four reads “Library Resources. Media. Libraries have free books and other media! Librarians can cultivate physical and digital collections of resources and recommendations for aspecs. For example: Media featuring aro or ace characters. Nonfiction media to help aspec people learn more about their identities. Media that doesn't contain sex or romance. Media that identifies and analyzes amatonormativity, singlism, and compulsory sexuality. Libraries could also host book clubs on these things! Visit https://bookshop.org/shop/taaap for our recommendations.” End ID.]
