Launch of GLBTIQ Collection
December 5th, 2007
The recent launch of the City of Sydney Library’s GLBTIQ Collection at Newtown Library was an auspicious occasion, especially for a Greens Councillor.
It was an honour to say a few words and cut the cake at the launch which was the culmination of much inspiration and dedication by many people committed to highlighting and recording issues relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer communities. It was great to be in the company of people passionate about the Collection like John Witte, Secretary of the Pride History Group, Dorothy McRae McMahon, editor of the South Sydney Herald, and historians Garry Wotherspoon and Gary Simes at the launch.
The Collection, which at present includes more than 450 items of fiction, non-fiction, reference and audio-visual items, was made possible by a $35,000 open grant from the State Library of NSW - Kathleen Bresnehan graciously represented the State Library at the launch. Many items in the collection were generously donated by Larry Galbraith. The project ultimately aims to purchase about 1000 items. The collection covers a broad range of topics ranging from same-sex parenting, sexual and gender identity, art, history, economics, politics and also teen fiction.
The City of Sydney Library aims to develop a fully-fledged GLBTIQ public events program to provide an accessible space to raise awareness and educate the larger community and strengthen partnerships within GLBTIQ organisations.
Newtown, which is increasingly called “home” by Sydney’s GLBTIQ community, is a perfect location for the Collection, but items can also be borrowed from Surry Hills and Kings Cross and are also searchable in the online library catalogue, through Libraries Australia and inter-library loans.
