LGBTQIA+ literature = gay literature? : A quantitative analysis based on intersectional motifs of Swedish public libraries collections of literature with LGBTQIA+ themes

The LGBTQIA+ community includes a myriad of different perspectives and experiences. The common denominator is that they all in one or more ways challenge normative views of gender and sexuality, but hierarchies exist even within marginalized groups. It is therefore of importance to study which perspectives are made accessible in libraries collections to avoid LGBTQIA+ themes becoming synonymous with one experience. Thus, the aim of this master’s thesis was to examine patterns and identify which perspectives are visible and accessible in Swedish public libraries collections of literature with LGBTQIA+ themes. Due to more and more libraries choosing to become LGBTQI certified by RFSL, the thesis also aims to study how the certification process can influence the diversity of this collection. The LGBTQIA+ collections of 18 public library catalogs, nine being LGBTQI certified, were analyzed through collection profiling. Mathiesen’s conceptual framework of informational justice guided the analysis along with intersectional theory. Previous international studies have shown that LGBTQIA+ library materials are overwhelmingly representative of the gay, white, adult male experience. Findings indicate that the Swedish collections also heavily favor white gay perspectives, implying an unmet information need and a lack of informational justice for other groups within the LGBTQIA+ community. However, the adult male perspective was not as dominant as in previous studies. Further, no notable differences between LGBTQI certified and non-certified libraries could be found.