Falkirk Council Libraries have recently signed up to the Scottish LGBTI+ Rainbow Mark scheme from Equality Scotland. This is an initiative to:

• Increase positive LGBTI+ visibility
• Provide information and tools to enable better LGBTI+ inclusion
• Reduce isolation and minority stress for LGBTI+ people
• Create more welcoming places in Scotland
• Reflect a genuine desire to recognise and respect LGBTI+ diversity and inclusion across Scotland.

LGBTI+ Rainbow Mark Commitment and Falkirk Council Libraries

 

Falkirk Libraries have made a commitment to join the LGBTI+ Rainbow Mark, an initiative to:

• Increase positive LGBTI+ visibility
• Provide information and tools to enable better LGBTI+ inclusion
• Reduce isolation and minority stress for LGBTI+ people
• Create more welcoming places in Scotland
• Reflect a genuine desire to recognise and respect LGBTI+ diversity and inclusion across Scotland.

The five principles of the LGBTI+ Rainbow Mark are:

1. We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive place for our LGBTI+ customers and users and maintaining best practice.
2. We want our LGBTI+ staff to be able to be themselves at work, to feel valued and protected.
3. We will be visible in our support, and use respectful and inclusive language, helping everyone to feel comfortable
4.  We have zero tolerance for discriminatory language and behaviour.
5. We are committed to understanding the needs of LGBTI+ people.

You can read more about the Rainbow Mark scheme at www.equality-network.org

This fits within various Falkirk Council and Falkirk Council Libraries policies:

·       Equal Opportunities Policy

·       Dignity at Work Policy

·       Falkirk Council Libraries Collection Management Policy

We commit to the five LGBTI+ Rainbow Mark principles in the following ways:

 

1.      We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive place for our LGBTI+ customers and users and maintaining best practice:

·       All Falkirk Council Libraries will display the LGBTI+ Rainbow Mark at or near the entrance.

·       We will maintain and provide access to quality resources that meet the needs of the whole community, including those who are LGBTI+.

·       Libraries will include books written by LGBTI+ authors and books with LGBTI+ themes in stock displays and promotions as appropriate.

·       We will work with local LGBTI+ community organisations to improve inclusion.

·       Images used on our communications and publications are inclusive and reflect everyone in the communities we serve.

·       Library staff can wear pins on their lanyards that show their support for LGBTI+ people.

·       Posters and leaflets for LGBTI+ events, groups, and services will be displayed in our libraries as appropriate.

·       Our staff receive diversity training and guidance to help them better include and support everyone who uses our libraries, including LGBTI+ people.

·       We will monitor our work to ensure that it meets the needs of all library users. We will encourage evaluation from LGBTI+ people through engagement with local LGBTI+ groups, our users and staff members.

 

2.      We want our LGBTI+ staff to be able to be themselves at work, to feel valued and protected:

·       We have visible inclusive Council policies, including the Falkirk Council Equal Opportunities Policy and the Falkirk Council Dignity at Work Policy We have a Libraries’ staff LGBTI+ working group (for LGBTI+ employees and allies) to support LGBTI+ inclusion.

·       Falkirk Council Libraries do not have a uniform policy, but ask that staff follow Falkirk Council’s dress code which is not gendered.

 

3.      We will be visible in our support, and use respectful and inclusive language, helping everyone to feel comfortable:

·       Library staff use respectful and inclusive language.

·       Library staff can use their pronouns in their email signature, where they feel comfortable doing so.

·       Libraries forms do not require the provision of gender, or title.

·       Falkirk Council’s job application forms do not require the provision of gender, or title.

 

4.      We have zero tolerance for discriminatory language and behaviour:

·       Threatening behaviour, including harassment, and the use of indecent or offensive language towards other library users or staff members is unacceptable. Anyone behaving in this manner will be asked to leave the library. Complaints can be made to library staff and will be taken seriously and investigated through our Complaints Procedure.

·       Library staff receive training to help them understand, identify and tackle discrimination.

·       Library staff are supported to escalate concerns of discrimination to managers for action.

 

5.      We are committed to understanding the needs of LGBTI+ people:

• Books written by LGBTI+ authors and books with LGBTI+ themes will be considered for inclusion to book group sets.
• Requests for books written by LGBTI+ authors and with LGBTI+ themes will be considered for inclusion to the Library collection in line with Falkirk Council Libraries Collection Management Policy.
• We are committed to removing barriers to library membership and managing library accounts. We know that providing identification for change of birth name is not always simple. We have updated our process for changing your name to make this as inclusive and straightforward as possible.

·       Falkirk Council Libraries have gender neutral toilets available for our users.