On-Demand Webinar: Transgender People in Libraries Webinar Series (Part One): Working with Transgender Patrons and Colleagues

This webinar is the first in a two-part series on transgender people in libraries. Register for the full series at its registration page.

An introductory look at gender and gender identity, this webinar places emphasis on translating knowledge and awareness into actionable best practices in a library setting. Attendees will come away with a better grasp of concepts of gender, gender identity, and pronouns, as well as why it is a vital topic in our society today. Tips for best practices give attendees concrete actions they can implement in order to better serve patrons and colleagues across the spectrum of gender identities in their libraries.

Learning Outcomes: 

At the end of the webinar, attendees will be able to:

  • Define conceptual information about gender identity, including: the difference between sex assigned at birth and gender identity, the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity, terminology such as "cisgender" and "transgender," and what pronouns are;
  • Articulate why it is important to learn about and incorporate best practices about gender-diverse people into day-to-day operations;
  • Recognize and challenge unconscious biases in themselves and others in regard to the way gender and assumptions about gender influence interactions;
  • Implement best practices such as: including pronouns in introductions, practicing the use of different pronouns, recognizing and addressing problematic behaviors such as misgendering; and
  • Create authentically gender-inclusive spaces for employees and patrons alike.

Who Should Attend: Administrators and managers seeking best practices in hiring and retaining trans/gender-diverse employees; library workers at all levels seeking best practices in working with trans colleagues and/or serving trans patrons.

Presenters:

Heath Umbreit (they/them), MLIS, is the Adult Services Librarian at Morrill Memorial Library in Massachusetts. At Drexel University, they earned their Master’s in Library & Information Sciences, conferred in 2014. Their career as a librarian spans over a decade; they started as a part-time Circulation Assistant at their local public library in 2011 before working as a temp assistant at MIT Libraries (2014-2016), and then as the Information Services Librarian at Sharon Public Library (2016-2021). Mis- and disinformation has been a professional and personal interest of theirs for several years; their study of the phenomenon focuses on a critical examination of popular narratives about disinformation, the concept of epistemic supremacy, and the ways in which information and disinformation intersect with systemic power differentials in American society. As a nonbinary trans person, Heath intentionally brings a unique perspective to the field of professional librarianship and centers the values of equity, access, and social justice in their work.

Tech Requirements

Core Webinars are held in Zoom. Speakers or a headset for listening to the presentation are required. You may interact with the presenter and ask questions through text-based chat. Closed captioning is available in the Zoom platform. The webcast will be recorded and the link to the recording shared with registrants shortly after the live event.