This letter was written in response to Patricia Sullivan's Article in the Valley Gay Press about how libraries in Berks County reacted to a short survey about the Valley Gay Press. Through a great from PFLAG, PA Diversity Network provided issues of the VGP for all libraries to give away.
8/4/07
Dear Patricia,
I read with interest your column in the latest issue of the Valley Gay Press regarding the distribution of VGP in public libraries.
I had asked Bernville Library twice why they did not display it.
I have worked in various libraries in Berks County (I still do), so I knew all the libraries were receiving it. The first time I asked the Bernville Library, I didn’t get a response. The second time, I received an email from the director. She said the Board decided not to display it. That was the only explanation.
The ironic thing is…I worked at Bernville Library for about 3 years during my undergraduate work. I’ve had many people come up to me when I was an assistant asking for GLBT-related materials. They usually whispered.
I donated the only three GLBT books in Bernville’s collection. I go in periodically to make sure the books are still there. They are.
I am familiar with many of the public libraries. (I was the person who asked about it at Hamburg). When I received the second email from Bernville, I was energized. I decided to put my Professional Writing degree to good use, and write a letter. I wanted them to know about my experience as a library assistant and all the requests I had regarding GLBT material. I also wanted to write how the public libraries helped me as a trans/lesbian growing up in this rural area.
There was a time when I couldn’t even walk down the “gay” aisle in a bookstore or library. But the more books I saw, the more confidence I gained. I can now go into any Borders/Barnes and Noble, sit a stool in front of the gay section, and just read. There was one library in particular that really has helped me. The Yocum Library at Reading Area Community College has a nice collection of GLBT-related materials. I donated a few, others have donated some, and the rest are purchased. (The Yocum Library at RACC is not a public library, but it is open to the public.) There are many books at Yocum. The library subscribes to the Advocate, and it has a small, but growing GLBT film section. (I am not totally unbiased. I am a graduate of RACC and I do work at Yocum as a part time assistant!)
I never wrote that letter to Bernville. While I was charged up after receiving that email, fear set in. I will be 29 in a few weeks. I live in a small town in Northern Berks, and I live with my parents while I attend graduate school. And while I am out to my family and mostly everyone in my life, I am still aware of my environment, and I don’t want anything to happen to my family because of my sexuality/gender identity. I succumbed to fear. And the ironic thing is that I am pursuing my Master’s degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education at Kutztown University. I want to specialize in transgender issues in Higher Education.
I always thought I’d be an advocate for those who were silenced. Yet I was silenced myself. And the thing is, I did it to myself. I feel ashamed that I didn’t write that letter. I was a coward. I guess I still am.
But by writing this letter to you, I feel like I can overcome that cowardice and write that letter to Bernville. Hopefully, I can be that one person to make a difference. It worked at Hamburg.
Sincerely,
Valerie Schaeffer
Berks County