Celebrate Pride Month with UNM’s Zimmerman Library

The University of New Mexico's Zimmerman Library is celebrating Pride Month and UNM's LGBTQ+ community with a carefully curated, vibrant and powerful book display that honors queer voices, stories, and identities.

The display is titled Reading with Pride! and will be available through June 30. All community members are welcome to browse the books and are encouraged to check them out for reading. There is also a list of books available for e-checkout at the display.

Patrons can find the display on the first floor of Zimmerman Library, on the New Books Shelf, which is near the north entrance and the community borrowers' computer area.

Several books on display have faced bans and challenges at various points in history due to their queer-focused content. A few of the featured titles under scrutiny include:

· All Boys Aren't Blue

· All That's Left in the World

· The Black Flamingo

· Gender Queer: A Memoir

· Girl from the Sea

· Julián is a Mermaid

· Radio Silence

· Welcome to St. Hell

Click on each book's title to learn more about the challenges and bans they have faced.

The display team's mission is to celebrate and provide patrons with educational materials about queer identities while showcasing that UNM libraries serve as a safe space for UNM's queer community.

"The display is meant to give the LGBTQ+ community a voice and help them feel seen within the library and across UNM," said Allison Anderson, a library information specialist with the College of University Libraries & Learning Sciences and the display team leader. "Our goal is to create a safe, welcoming space while also offering an opportunity to educate others about the many identities that exist within the queer community."

The curators thoughtfully selected the materials to offer, incorporating both fiction and nonfiction that highlight the full range of the queer spectrum, specifically featuring characters and authors from diverse backgrounds and experiences, ensuring a wide variety of representation.

Visitors will experience a wide array of display decorations in a rainbow of colors and various queer flags, along with explanations of their meanings, while also learning about resources offered by other UNM departments. The display showcases three UNM resource centers, including Women's, LGBTQ and LoboREspect Advocacy, which highlight the DEI-based work at UNM that fosters an all-inclusive environment.

To learn more about Zimmerman Libraries' exhibits, visit the Zimmerman Library webpage.