Affirmative gay material in a hospital library collection.

摘要

To the Editor: In the light of the American Psychiatric Association's policy on homosexuality, the rise of gay caucuses within professions, and the changing mood of legislative bodies, the hospital library has to reevaluate its collection on homosexuality. Too many collections contain material by nonsympathetic authors. In order to fulfill the primary professional obligation, the librarian needs a balanced collection so that staff and students can be exposed to material that will effectively offset possible previously learned concepts. Not to have a balanced collection deprives staff/students of freedom of information, involves the librarian in a question of civil rights, and ultimately deprives a gay patient of the right to medical treatment by a sympathetic or at least neutral patient-care team.