Library Improvements
During the 2023-2024 academic year, we’ve been hard at work making big improvements to the library, from rearranging furniture to curating the collection. One of our most impactful changes was the implementation of a new classification system: Pan Eros-Q Center Classification (PEQCC).
In libraries, a classification system organizes the collection so patrons and librarians alike can locate the items they need. A familiar example of a classification system might be the Dewey Decimal system that’s used in most public and school libraries, or Library of Congress Classification which you’ll find in academic libraries like UW’s. These systems are vast and complex, but they often fall short of adequately representing marginalized groups – including the queer community.
PEQCC is a new and unique classification system designed by queer library professionals for queer collections. It was derived from the Pan Eros Classification System, designed by UW MLIS graduate Bellamy Jacobs, and was painstakingly reconstructed to meet the needs of the Q Center’s collection by our student staff librarian, Lexi Santiago (served 2023-present). This essential work means that our patrons can see themselves represented with care and respect for years to come.
