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FITTING MONUMENT OF BOOKS
by Patricia Nell Warren Gail Lang |
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Most writers dream of writing a shelf full of books and leaving that behind them. For Gail Lang of Sacramento, the dream was to leave behind an entire building full of other people's books. Joining with other like-minded people, she was a driving force in establishing the Lavender Library, Archives and Cultural Exchange (LLACE) in the capital of California. On November 2, when friends and associates of Gail's were shocked to hear of her sudden death from cancer, it was a moment to reflect about the impact of a single person's achievement on the world of books for GLBT people. "One of Sacramento's most beloved personalities, a wonder and a joy, Gail was small of body and large of heart." This was the description of Gail that LLACE posted on their webpage. Novelist Ann Bannon, who lives in Sacramento and knew her well, says: "Gail had a sweet spirit, a generous heart, and a tremendous commitment to GLBT literature and to this community. I regarded her as a treasure, and not only to us here in Sacramento who benefited most directly. She stood as an exemplar to our national community of the sort of energy and devotion that can create marvels of creativity, good will, and progress." I first met this tiny book-loving bombshell of a woman several years ago, when she was working at The Open Book bookstore in Sacramento. A former social worker who originally hailed from Rome, N. Y., she was now "retired." But Gail was one of those retirees who aim to fill their later years with something big, energetic, real and important. She contacted Wildcat Press and other publishers with her dream of an actual library center in Sacramento, and the need of book donations. It happens that I am passionate about libraries, having grown up in a rural town where the local library was a cultural center of utmost importance to both children and adults in the entire surrounding county. Many gay people today think of "GLBT libraries" as large institutions in big cities, like the Gerber/Hart Library in Chicago or the ONE Institute Library in Los Angeles. Or they think of the important GLBT book collections within major public libraries or at major universities. These big collections ARE important. Yet it's important to note the recent appearance of smaller, but no less vital libraries springing up across the GLBT grassroots of America—in community centers, youth centers, gay churches, AIDS service organizations, or wherever the need for books is felt by people in that local community. Indeed, there is a powerful tradition of grassroots libraries in gay American history. One of the earliest was the old Mattachine Library, whose checkered fortunes I used to follow when I lived in New York in the 1970s (at that time the library was in dire need of a permanent home). One of the most recent is the Ed Ricketson Memorial Library, established a few years ago by one dedicated individual in Roanoke, VA—the only GLBT library in that part of the United States. We have always known that our GLBT lives depend on having lifesaving information at the right moment, where it's related to health, spirituality, or simply the inspiration and healing that a good story can give. Hence the importance of bookstores and libraries in our world. Even in the age of the Internet, with growing digitalization of everything we can name, there is still dire need of that quiet physical space that a library is, where you can actually browse real, holdable books, or chat with real-living friends in a gay book club. Libraries are especially important for GLBT young people and old people who are low-income and so don't have computers or Internet access. So Gail's appeal was definitely heard by me. Wildcat joined with many other publishers and authors in sending her boxes of books. In due course I met her in person on a booksigning visit to The Open Book. Finally came the great news that a tree-shaded building had been found on 21st Street. Gail actually moved into the building and lived there, as the interior was customized and the growing collection was organized. I was one of the artists participating in LLACE's grand opening two years ago, with its enthusiastic attendance, good food and hopes for the future. LLACE set out to serve the local community as a lending library and archives and a site for cultural activities. It's a volunteer-run, donation-supported community organization with certified nonprofit status. LLACE encouraged its patrons to join and become Pride Preserver members. It loans not only books, but periodicals, videos and tapes. It collects items that preserve the LGBT experience in the Sacramento area, and sponsors lectures, exhibits and other events for the community. The library includes a gallery space where works by local GLBT artists are exhibited. When Gail learned that she had cancer, one of her first thoughts was for the survival of the Library. She established a Memorial Endowment Fund for long-range support of the library. Just 22 days before her death, Gail got the shocking news that her cancer had spread. She spent her last days on Earth at home, surrounded by her books and by the love and care of friends and associates. At her request, donations instead of flowers are being made to: the Lavender Library, P.O. Box 987, Sacramento, CA 95812. Donations will go into the Endowment Fund. Hopefully the readers of this newsletter will make book donations to the Lavender Library, and as many other grassroots GLBT libraries as they can manage. It's especially important for libraries to get the newer titles by younger writers—the importance of these to a growing collection are obvious. Library donation copies don't have to be bookstore-perfect. Libraries are happy to get those hurts and unsaleable returns. Plus doing lectures and booksignings at local libraries is a good way for newer writers to make themselves known to book-readers. Gail Lang will be missed. But she leaves behind her that fit monument of books—a living monument, big as her heart, big as her dream. ____________________ Further information: Lavender Library, Archives and Cultural Exchange at: http://www.lavenderlibrary.org/index.html Copyright (c) 2003 by Patricia Nell Warren. All rights reserved. |
