GLSEN Announces Launch of New Online BookLink

Nov 04, 2002

The new BookLink (formerly The GLSEN Bookstore) is GLSEN’s link to the highest-quality resources for students, educators, families and community allies working to end anti-LGBT bias in K-12 schools! By using the new BookLink system, you’ll be supporting GLSEN in two valuable ways: 1) GLSEN staff members will be able to focus more of their time on developing new and needed resources to assist you in your work (many of which are available for free on our website, at events or by request); and 2) Every purchase you make when you connect from the BookLink to Amazon.com, our main retail associate, will earn GLSEN a referral fee. We earn the highest fees when you put the item you've selected directly into your "shopping cart," and we ask that you consider this when you'd prefer simply to browse.

Please Note: If you have copies of the 2001-2002 GLSEN Bookstore catalog or catalogs from previous years, please use them only for book and video content reference, or discard them.

Navigating the GLSEN BookLink The BookLink is divided into the same five categories GLSEN has always used: Secondary Students (Grades 7-12) Primary Students (Grades K-6) Adults Curriculum & Training Video Resources Each category has its own BookLink section which contains an annotated list of resources. The title of each resource links either to Amazon.com, or, in a handful of cases, the publisher or producer of the resource.

Making a Purchase There are three purchasing options in the GLSEN BookLink. Which option you use depends upon the specific book or video you wish to purchase:

1. GLSEN Resources: Resources produced by GLSEN will soon be available for purchase at Amazon.com. The titles of these resources will link directly to the Amazon.com website. All GLSEN resources contain the GLSEN name in their description. 2. Resources indicated with an asterisk (*): These resources will not be available at Amazon.com. The titles of these resources link directly to the websites of their publishers or producers, who can fulfill purchasing requests. 3. Resources indicated with a plus sign (+): These resources are currently available at Amazon.com, and also can be purchased and/or specially ordered at most local bookstores and bookstore chains.

Beginning A New Chapter This year marks a major turning point in the history of the GLSEN BookLink. In addition to having over forty new titles to recommend, we’ve also changed the way we operate. Instead of continuing to sell GLSEN and other LGBT educational resources through a distributor, a system which burdened the financial and human resources of our Education Department, we have joined Amazon.com’s Associates program. This renewed emphasis on GLSEN's capacity to produce and endorse, rather than sell, LGBT resources will enable us to add recommended books and videos to the BookLink on an ongoing basis, rather than as a once-a-year catalog project.

LGBT-inclusive educational resources are an often-overlooked component of improving school climates. According to GLSEN’s 2001 National School Climate Survey, fewer than a third of the LGBT students surveyed reported using LGBT-inclusive textbooks in their classes, and only slightly more than a third reported having LGBT resources in their school library. As many educators and students know, accurate, practical and inclusive books and videos hold the potential to educate and empower every member of a school community.

Click here to enter the BookLink!
BookLink Resource Review All resources are reviewed by at least two volunteers from the BookLink’s review committee, which is comprised of students, educators, and family and community allies. If you would like to recommend resources for review, or participate in the volunteer review committee, please e-mail us at booklink@glsen.org