Acquiring and promoting rainbow books for young people is part of building an inclusive collection and culture at your library. Ensuring your library offers a diverse selection of age-appropriate books about different topics, regions, cultures, histories, peoples and experiences helps normalise difference and increase social tolerance among young people.

Out on the Shelves features books for all age ranges–from kindergarten through to university. Rainbow content is not inherently any more “mature” or “adult” than non-rainbow content, and research shows that many rainbow young people are aware of their identities from a very young age. Young people seeing themselves represented in literature is an important part of healthy, mirroring development.

We know that experiences of erasure, rejection, bullying and discrimination contribute to the high rates of emotional distress and suicide among rainbow youth in Aotearoa. Having access to age-appropriate, affirming representations of rainbow identities across various intersections of gender, sexuality, race and culture can help reduce feelings of isolation, depression and minority stress in our rainbow rangatahi. Positive representation has been shown to reduce bullying and contribute to rainbow young people having healthier, more respectful friendships and relationships.

Given the widespread lack of accessible third-spaces in our communities, we also know that libraries continue to be one of the only reliable public places that young people and marginalised people can shelter spend time in. By visibly participating in Out on the Shelves, libraries can actively demonstrate to rainbow communities that these institutions are a safe, inclusive place, and that rainbow people are valued and reflected in the library’s collections.