Admin Biographical History | Lesbians in Libraries (fl 1985-1989) was set up in London in the early 1980s as a campaigning sub-group of Women in Libraries, and a support group 'for lesbians who work in and use libraries'. Its main aim was to have lesbian texts supplied to public libraries as a matter of course, and not just at the request of particular librarians. In order to do this the group worked closely with women's publishing houses including Sheba, The Women's Press, Onlywomen Press, Virago and Black Women Talk.
Lesbians in Libraries targeted library suppliers, having found that information sent to many library suppliers by Onlywomen Press (the only lesbian press) and The Women's Press had not been passed on to the libraries. Lesbians in Libraries challenged this and, in doing so, raised the profile of lesbian literature and put it onto the suppliers' agenda.
Lesbians in Libraries held conferences, produced bulletins and newsletters and networked with other groups including The Lesbians and Gay Librarians Group, The Library Association and Lesbian Mothers Group. |