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CHICAGO – Newly published research study from the American Association of School Librarians’ (AASL) peer-reviewed online journal, School Library Research (SLR), used systematic literature review methodology to examine international empirical research in the field of school and youth librarianship to identify and categorize published empirical research on LGBTQIA+ topics. Articles can be accessed for free at .

In the recently published “LGBTQIA+ Inclusive School Library Research: A Systematic Literature Review,” Jenna Spiering, Lucy Santos Green, and Jesselyn Dreeszen Bowman present a study, implementing the systematic literature review method applied by Abreu and Kenny (2018) and by Johnston and Green (2018). The study’s objectives were to identify and categorize published empirical research on LGBTQIA+ topics in school and youth librarianship and identify and categorize gaps in that research to propose focuses for future research studies.

As noted by the research team, the key finding is that little research has examined LGBTQIA+ inclusive school library services for youth. More research in this area, along with the employment of diverse methodologies to uncover a detailed and expansive picture of what LGBTQIA+ inclusive service means, is desperately needed. The researchers “strongly encourage LIS researchers to study and document examples of libraries and librarians who are engaged in inclusive practice as exemplars in the field, providing tangible findings about how students, classroom teachers, and communities benefit when these services are available through the library.”

School Library Research (ISSN: 2165-1019) is the successor to School Library Media Research (ISSN: 1523-4320) and School Library Media Quarterly Online. The journal is peer-reviewed and indexed by H. W. Wilson's Library Literature and by the ERIC Clearinghouse on Information & Technology. It welcomes manuscripts that focus on high-quality original research concerning the management, implementation, and evaluation of school libraries.

The American Association of School Librarians, , a division of the 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½), empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning.