Kayla Reed Publishes Research on LGBTQIA+ Employees of Academic Libraries

Kayla Reed, assistant professor and discovery, systems, and digital strategy librarian at Grinnell College, was recently published in the Journal of Academic Librarianship. The article, “Exploring the impact of sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression in academic libraries,” reflects Reed’s research and teaching, which focus on diversity and LGBTQIA+ issues, with a focus on asexuality, intersection, and cooperation of library departments, as well as emotional labor in the workforce. 

Reed co-authored the article with Judith Brink Drescher, Molloy University librarian and associate dean for learning services. 

“While there is significant literature concerning Black, Indigenous, and other people of color and their struggle to succeed and thrive in their chosen field of librarianship, there is little research for those who have non-conforming identities within their sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression (SOGIE),” says Reed. “Without any meaningful quantitative data to determine even the size of this population, how can academic libraries begin to understand the impact, influence, and contributions that come from those who identify as LGBTQIA+?”  

Reed adds, “In the current sociopolitical climate, understanding the hurdles LGBTQIA+ individuals face in the workplace is more important than ever.”