WEEK 13 PROMPT RESPONSE (Separating LGBTQ and Street Lit Fiction)
I am a big, big fan of browsing, it is one of life’s purest pleasures. Personally, I am not a fan of libraries separating genres and when I hear arguments that this arrangement makes it “easier for genre readers to browse” (Novak, 2006) I think, but what about those of us who don’t look to genre first to determine a book’s appeal? Measuring beyond my own tastes, there are strong reasons not to divide libraries into ever smaller sections determined by genre. This applies across the board, but LGBTQ and street lit specifically should not be separated into their own sections of the library. Separate Shelves Enforce Stigma Both LGBTQ and street lit classifications carry the weight of stigma; separation into their own sections of the library both creates and enforces that stigma. Best-selling street lit author K’Wan told the Financial Times (2015) that he prefers to think of himself as a crime writer and noted he worries the street lit genre classification limits hi...