Transgender Resource Collection

Serving, Reflecting and Welcoming Everyone

"Transgender" is an umbrella term that applies to people whose gender identity does not conform to what society has commonly associated with their birth sex. Oak Park Public Library has created a groundbreaking collection to serve transgender people and anyone seeking information, including employers, medical providers, allies, friends, and family.

Access to our Collection

These circulating materials in the library catalog may be borrowed by most library card holders in Illinois. Visit any library location or ask at your home library.

Reading Lists

• Selected Titles from the Transgender Resource Collection (PDF)
• LGBTQ Books for Teens (PDF)
• Free to Be: Books Celebrating Non-Traditional Gender Roles for Children (PDF)
• $200 Transgender Bookshelf

Library Toolkit

For libraries and other organizations interested in our work, be sure to visit our Library Toolkit.

Awards, Recognition and Publications 

• Gordon M. Conable Award of the Public Library Association
• OPAL award from Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association (OPALGA)
• Designation as an Exemplary Project by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) (PDF)
• Chicago Gender Society Community Partner Award
• Wednesday Journal (PDF)
• Windy City Times
• I Love Libraries.org
• Lambda Literary
• "When Collection Development Leads to Staff Development" in Serving LGBTIQ Library and Archives Users edited by Ellen Greenblatt
• "Crossing Barriers" in Winning Grants by Pamela H. MacKellar and Stephanie K. Gerding

Your feedback and suggestions are important to us. Contact Bleue J. Benton, Collection Development Manager, at collections@oppl.org or 708-697-6952.

Funding for this grant project was awarded by the Illinois State Library (ISL), a Division of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), under the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).