Amassing Resources for the LGBTQ+ Research Guide: 3/28 9am-5pm

Considering this is my second to last week of my practicum, I was ready to really start wrapping up my LGBTQ+ research guide. While this was a long-term project, I had frequently been sidetracked with other smaller projects and reference desk work. As such, it was time to meaningfully ensure this project was completed before the end of my time with the Dee J. Kelly Law Library. Thus, today I spent a frenzied full day combing through the library's catalog for any and all resources related to LGBTQ+ legal issues. There were quite a few, so organizing my findings was quite the task. Ultimately, I made a master list document organizing resources by format and topic, with entries including links, identifying information, resources summaries, and anything else useful for review. By the end of the day, I had over thirty pages of listed and summarized material to include in the research guide.

While it was a very busy day, I did really enjoy putting together the materials. There are so many interesting print books, e-books, journal articles, databases, videos, and everything in between that would be helpful for anyone interested in how LGBTQ+ issues intersect with the law. It was also really useful being able to see how other law libraries have structured similar research guides and what kinds of materials were best for inclusion. There was a lot of variances between these guides, so it was fascinating to see which libraries prioritized which topics and resource types. In any case, some of the information and materials I included were things not actually in the A&M University catalog. For example, I started collecting information about LGBTQ+ legal organizations across the country and in Texas for a page of the guide. I also collected, for example, a curated list of TED Talks and movies/documentaries as well.

Photo Description: This is the Dee J. Kelly reference desk! This is where I work most of my practicum shifts, even if I'm working on other projects (like the LGBTQ+ research guide). Patrons are free to drop by whenever the reference desk is open for assistance.

Name: Madeleine Ball

Site Supervisor: Lisa Goodman

Hours: 8 hours