CAMP Library: A Place of Discovery
“I discovered me in the library.”
-Ray Bradbury
The love of books began early for CAMP Library Coordinator Glenn Lash. “My grandmom gave my brother and me a book for every birthday and Christmas. I have continued the tradition with my nieces and nephews.”
As a library aide in both junior and senior high school, Glenn learned how to keep a library organized and run it efficiently. His fellow students came to rely on him to speed their research in those pre-internet days.
Then he discovered Giovanni’s Room, the legendary LGBTQ bookstore in Philadelphia. Glenn recalled the experience on The Rainbow Minute, produced by Judd Proctor and Brian Burns for Richmond Independent Radio (WRIR). “My entering the gay community was through the doors of Giovanni’s Room. In 1981, at age 19, all I knew was that I was gay and alone. Beyond the books, Giovanni’s gave me a family.”
In March 2022, Glenn tapped into his love of books and libraries to help with CAMP Rehoboth’s library.
Library With a Pedigree
In the late 1980s and early ’90s, you couldn’t just pop on the internet and download a book. “Which is why,” according to CAMP Rehoboth cofounder Murray Archibald, “when we created CAMP Rehoboth, we worked to bring a branch of the DC bookstore Lambda Rising to the CAMP Rehoboth courtyard.”
Initially, CAMP Rehoboth relied on donated LGBTQ books. But as CAMP developed into a full-service community center, plans included a lending library of LGBTQ resources. “Once we moved into the present space at 37 Baltimore,” says Murray, “a room was designated as the CAMP Rehoboth library, and volunteers worked to keep it organized and usable.”
In 2010, Tony Burns provided the funding to build the library shelves and donated his entire photo collection. Tony had been taking photos since the late 1970s, documenting social life in Rehoboth. (More on this to come in a future issue of Letters.)
Over time, the internet made access to LGBTQ resources easier, but volunteers kept the CAMP Rehoboth library alive. Kathy Weir looked after the library while she was an administrative assistant at CAMP, and Kim Nelson, a CAMPcierge, tended to the library in late 2021.
CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director Kim Leisey’s goal was to make the library more accessible and easier to use. “I love to read, and…if I were a young person, just coming out, I’d want to be able to go right to my area of interest, rather than spend hours looking through tons of books. I wanted to make it easier for people to use and know about.”
The library is also a vital resource in a time when book bans are increasing. “In 2023,” Glenn says, “LGBTQ titles and authors composed over 40 percent of the banned. It is vital that an LGBTQ library exist. This is something to take pride in!”
The New CAMP Library—Practically Perfect in Every Way
One of the great things about the “new” library is its location—just inside the Elkins-Archibald Atrium. A visible, ground-floor location where visitors are likely to see it and frequent flyers can come and go easily. The move was part of CAMP’s recent renovation activities. As Glenn says, “With the move to a room on the first floor by the atrium, I will never have to hear anyone say, ‘I didn’t know CAMP had a library.’”
With Glenn at the helm, the collection will be organized to enable users to easily find what they’re looking for. And there are treasures galore. Whether you’re searching for something specific, want to browse for something to read, or just want to while away a few hours steeped in books, a visit to the CAMP library is in order. As Glenn says, “The voices of your brothers and sisters are waiting for you to listen to their tales.”
Speaking of treasures, in the coming months, Glenn will select a special something from the CAMP Library to feature in Letters from CAMP Rehoboth. He says, “It’s as though CAMP Rehoboth is Horton (from Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss), and the library is the flower he holds. Each book is a speck of dust resting upon that flower, shouting, “We are here! We are here!”
Want to Make a Donation?
Of course, financial donations are always welcome, but so are books. Well, some books. No dusty textbooks or Granny’s National Geographics, please. Here are some guidelines:
• LGBTQ+ titles and/or authors ONLY
• Paperbacks/hardcovers, new or used, but in good condition
• Other media (photographs, magazines, electronic media) only after review and approval
• No pornography
Place donations in the labeled bin in the library with a note containing your name and contact information (so they can thank you!).
Visit the CAMP Library
The library will be open (once renovations are complete) when CAMP is open (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday). What will you discover? ▼
Nancy Sakaduski is an award-winning writer and editor who owns Cat & Mouse Press in Lewes, Delaware.