IFLA Lgbtq+ Matters Section

07/09/2026

How do you find reliable data about LGBTQ+ communities – and what happens when the data you need simply isn't there?

A group of Canadian data librarians and specialists set out to explore exactly that question. The result was the Canadian Q***r Data Guide, bringing together publicly available data while also highlighting gaps, limitations and some of the challenges involved in working with q***r data.

In a new post on the IFLA LGBTQ+ Matters Section blog, Christina Cutler and Nick Field share what the team learnt along the way - from questions of scope, language and representation to the importance of critically evaluating the sources behind the data.

Their experiences will also be at the heart of our upcoming webinar, Making a Q***r Data Guide: Learnings from Canada, on 9 October.

Read the blog post and stay tuned for more information about the webinar!

https://iflalgbtqusers.wordpress.com/2026/09/04/making-a-q***r-data-guide-learnings-from-canada/

***rData

“Can you help me find data on q***r barbershops and hair salons?” After receiving this question, and many more like it, we—a group of Canadian data librarians and library staff—started talking. The…

22/08/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our open session at in Busan earlier this month!

Together with IFLA FAIFE and SAA, the IFLA LGBTQ+ Matters Section hosted the session “Access Reclaimed: Defending Open Knowledge and Underrepresented Perspectives through Subject Cataloguing”. The session explored how subject cataloguing and knowledge organisation can improve access to knowledge, make underrepresented communities more visible, and help libraries uphold intellectual freedom.

We were delighted to hear from two excellent speakers:

🇵🇭 Miriam Charmigrace Q. Salcedo (Philippines) spoke about the importance of inclusive subject access and how thoughtful cataloguing practices can help ensure that LGBTQ+ communities are represented and discoverable in library collections.

🇧🇷 Janaína Barcelos Resende (Brazil) shared her experiences of developing more inclusive knowledge organisation practices, demonstrating how metadata and subject description can better reflect diverse communities while supporting equitable access to information.

The session concluded with an engaging panel discussion, expertly moderated by Anna Sławek, with thoughtful questions and contributions from the audience.

Our sincere thanks go to our speakers, moderator, colleagues in FAIFE and SAA, and everyone who attended and contributed to such an inspiring discussion. It was wonderful to see so much interest in this important topic, and we hope the conversations started in Busan will continue long after WLIC has come to a close.

09/08/2026

Join us for an informal LGBTQ+ Matters get-together in Busan!

The IFLA LGBTQ+ Matters Section warmly invites everyone at WLIC to join us for a relaxed social gathering on Monday at 19:00.

Come along for something to drink, perhaps something to eat, or simply a chat, and meet colleagues from around the world in an informal setting. No programme, no agenda, just an opportunity to spend some time together and get to know one another.

You certainly don’t have to be a member of the Section to join us. Whether you’re involved in LGBTQ+ issues in libraries, interested in our work, curious about the Section, or simply fancy some good company after a day at the conference, you are very welcome!

📍 Crown Hof, Busan Center Branch
🕖 Monday, 10 August, 19:00

The venue is very close to BEXCO. See the photo and map for the exact location.

We hope to see you there!

30/07/2026

Join us at the IFLA World Library and Information Congress 2026 in Busan for our open session:

Access Reclaimed: Defending Open Knowledge and Underrepresented Perspectives through Subject Cataloguing

Organised jointly by the LGBTQ+ Matters Section, the Subject Analysis and Access Section (SAA), and the Advisory Committee on Freedom of Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE), this session explores how subject cataloguing and knowledge organisation can support intellectual freedom, improve access to knowledge, and ensure that underrepresented communities are represented fairly and accurately in our library systems.

We are delighted to welcome presentations by:

• Miriam Charmigrace Q. Salcedo (Philippines)
• Janaína Barcelos Resende (Brazil)

The presentations will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Anna Slawek, exploring the challenges and opportunities of creating more inclusive and equitable subject access.

📅 Tuesday, 11 August 2026
🕘 09:00–10:00 (KST)
📍 BEXCO, Busan, Session Room 4

We hope to see you there!

01/06/2026

🌈 Happy Pride Month from the IFLA LGBTQ+ Matters Section! 🌈

June is here, and with it comes a time to celebrate, reflect, and reaffirm our commitment to inclusive and welcoming libraries for everyone - no matter who they are or who they love. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

As librarians, we are on the front lines of building spaces where every community member feels seen, valued, and represented.

How does your library acknowledge or celebrate Pride Month?
• Do you put together a special LGBTQ+ display or reading list? 📚
• Are you hosting events, workshops, or film screenings? 🎉
• Are you partnering with local LGBTQ+ organizations? 🤝
• Are you decorating your space with Pride flags and colours? 🖼️
• Or perhaps you're doing something completely unique? 💬

Share your ideas, photos, and stories in the comments below - let's inspire each other and celebrate the incredible work happening in libraries around the world! ✨
Every act of visibility matters. Every welcoming shelf makes a difference.

06/05/2026

📚 We need YOUR voice!

The IFLA LGBTQ+ Matters Section is building a toolkit to support library workers who face challenges or backlash around LGBTQ+ topics at work — and we want it to reflect realities from around the world. 🌍

If you work in a library and have navigated difficult situations, restrictive legislation, or sensitive local conditions related to LGBTQ+ topics, your experience matters.

Share your stories, reflections, and good practices with us — together, we can create a resource that truly helps colleagues globally. 💙

👉 Fill in the form before May 22nd:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeq3fCdHvp8-VYJn0VGqcDsSYUSP4qDwmMkbKENBDJwttE8VQ/viewform

Tag a library colleague who should see this!

The IFLA LGBTQ+ Matters Section is developing a toolkit for library workers who are facing challenges or backlash related to LGBTQ+ topics in their professional environments. To make the toolkit relevant globally, we would very much value hearing from colleagues working in different national context...

16/04/2026

📣 Call for presenters – only two weeks left to apply!

The IFLA LGBTQ+ Matters Section, together with the Subject Analysis and Access Section and FAIFE, is inviting proposals for lightning presentations at our joint open session at IFLA World Library and Information Congress 2026 in Busan:

Access reclaimed: Defending open knowledge and underrepresented perspectives through subject cataloguing

We are especially keen to hear from colleagues working with:
🔹 LGBTQ+ perspectives in metadata and knowledge organisation
🔹 bias and visibility in subject access
🔹 censorship and discoverability
🔹 ethical challenges in describing identities and lived experience
🔹 community informed approaches to subject analysis and classification
🔹 AI and political pressures affecting subject metadata

We warmly welcome proposals from all types of libraries – public libraries, school libraries, academic libraries, special libraries, and beyond. You do not need to be a researcher or cataloguing specialist. If you have practical experience of challenges related to subject access, terminology, visibility, or restrictions affecting your users or collections, your perspective is valuable and relevant.

📆 Deadline: 1 May 2026

Please consider submitting a proposal, and help us by sharing this call with colleagues and networks who might be interested.

👉 Full call and submission details here:
https://2026.ifla.org/faife/

Your voice and experience can help shape an important international conversation about equitable and responsible subject access.

07/04/2026

Call for presenters – help bring LGBTQ+ perspectives to WLIC 2026! 🏳️‍🌈

The IFLA LGBTQ+ Matters Section is pleased to collaborate with the IFLA Subject Analysis and Access Section and IFLA Advisory Committee on Freedom of Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE) on the open session "Access reclaimed: Defending open knowledge and underrepresented perspectives through subject cataloguing" at WLIC 2026 in Busan.

We are inviting proposals for short lightning presentations from colleagues working with subject analysis, metadata, knowledge organisation systems, intellectual freedom, and equitable access to information.

From the LGBTQ+ Matters Section perspective, we are particularly interested in contributions exploring how subject cataloguing and metadata shape the visibility and discoverability of LGBTQ+ topics and communities.

Please consider submitting a proposal, or sharing the call with colleagues who should be part of this conversation. Read the full CFP on the IFLA WLIC 2026 website:

Join us this August in Busan, Korea for a week of networking, learning, debating and sharing with the most global community of information professionals and librarians!