Present

Current trends in GLBTQ library service all seem to be trending in one direction: young readers. Despite controversy and challenges, libraries are beginning to be committed to providing quality GLBTQ materials in their collections and GLBTQ literature for children and young adults in being recognized in new ways all the time.

"And Tango Makes Three" Wins ASPCA's Henry Bergh Award

And Tango Makes Three, written by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson and illustrated by Henry Cole, is a 2005 children's book based on the true story two male penguins who formed a couple and were given an egg to raise. In 2005 the books won it's first award, the ASPCA's Henry Bergh Award. It has since gained numerous other awards and mentions, including being named Nick Jr. Family Magazine's Best Book of the Year and finding a place on the ALAs Notable Children's Book list for 2006.

However, the book was met with controversy and it has become one of the most challenged library books in recent years. The American Library Association reports that And Tango Makes Three was the most challenged book of 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2010 (and the second most challenged in 2009.) IN response to criticism, the authors responded "We wrote the book to help parents teach children about same-sex parent families. It's no more an argument in favor of human gay relationships than it is a call for children to swallow their fish whole or sleep on rocks."

The Rainbow Project

The Rainbow Project was created as a grass-roots effort in 2007 to provide young people with books that reflect GLBTQ individuals, groups, and experiences. It is a joint project of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table and the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association.

The Rainbow Book List is presented annually and is a bibliography of books that are found to be quality works and have significant and authentic GLBTQ content. The books are recommended forages from birth through 18. Although many more books with GLBTQ content are available to this audience than in the past, many of these are not identified clearly, making such a bibliography a useful took for kids and adults seeking out this kind of material.


First Stonewall Children's and Young Adult Literature Award

In 2010 the ALA announced a new award under the Stonewall Awards series. The new award, named the Stonewall Book Award-Mike Morgan and Larry Romans Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award, is for an English-language book “of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered experience.” The first award went to "Almost Perfect" by Brian Katcher.