Sarah Hashimoto

First proclaimed Gay and Lesbian Pride Month in 1999 and expanded by President Obama in 2011, LGBTQIA+ Pride Month commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan and celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community. The following books, ranging from romance and mystery to social sciences and memoirs, honor the experiences, legacies, and accomplishments of LGBTQIA+ people. 

This constantly growing collection pushes past traditional boundaries to preserve critically important endangered materials centered on LGBTQIA+ communities and history. It is a heartening, essential resource for all libraries.

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, observed in May, recognizes the achievements, contributions, and complex histories of Americans descended from 75 countries across the Asian continent. The following books, both fiction and nonfiction, provide a window into the resilience, creativity, and breadth of experience within this varied group.

First recognized by presidential proclamation in 2006, Jewish American Heritage Month celebrates the accomplishments, community, and culture of Jewish American people. The following booklist features history, biography, novellas, historical fiction, and more, all commemorating the breadth of experience and wide-ranging accomplishments of Jewish Americans.

Mental Health Awareness Month highlights the importance of mental wellness and promotes advocacy, sharing, compassion, and the dismantling of stereotypes surrounding a wide range of mental health conditions. The following books include contemporary romance, literary fiction, poetry, memoirs, and more, all speaking to the importance of continued dialogue surrounding mental health.

In recognition of Arab American Heritage Month, formally established by the Biden administration in April 2021, this reading list celebrates the varied cultures, achievements, and contributions of Arab American people. Through poetry, literary fiction, memoirs, and more, the following books reveal many facets of Arab American communities, histories, and experiences.

Autism Acceptance Month recognizes the deliberate shift away from the stigmatized term “autism awareness” toward an inclusive attitude of acceptance, respect, listening, parity, and empowerment. With romance, literary fiction, memoirs, and more, the following reading list honors the many experiences and voices of people within the autistic community. 

This unique and expansive resource offers exciting opportunities for educators seeking to facilitate discussions centered on race and racism, identity, power, and culture. Materials are curated and presented by exceptional scholars and teachers who offer nuanced understandings and thoughtful writings across a range of topics.

Fee-based databases offer scholars and general readers access to authoritative, fact-based research. These tools further study, enable discovery, and highlight key archival collections around the world.