Wow. This cranky blogger is turning out to be quite the piece of work from what I've read thus far. First she picked apart that NYT hipster librarian fluff piece by largely venting her hatred of young librarians rather that critiquing the the article's author. That's all well and good; that article deserved some criticism even though I have a hard a time trying to understand the sheer volume of vitriol and ad-hominem directed toward it.

This one was a bit odd, though. Sure, feel free to comment on what you think are stupid titles and programs. To wit:

"Addressing the Information Needs of Female-to-Male Transsexuals." A very straightforward title, but I'm not sure information is the most pressing need of these people.

Her unfamiliarity with the subject shows here. My response is, yes, information is among the topmost pressing needs of transsexuals. As, arguably, one of the most invisible, marginalized, threatened, and misunderstood groups, trans folk have a whole host of information needs that sets them apart from other under-served groups. Ask the average person to define transsexual, transgendered, tranvestite, or drag king/queen, for example, and you'll begin to understand the general lack of knowledge people have. Throw in specialized and individual concerns with respect to sexuality, psychology, legal and medical needs and you have a recipe for a complex and specialized set of information needs. From finding social support, consulting qualified therapists, to receiving professional care (endocrinologists, surgeons, cosmetic surgeons, voice coaches), transsexuals need to draw from very specific information sources (including people).

But it isn't just me saying that. One of the commenters responded:

Transgender individuals are a frequently ignored group, especially those undergoing transitions from female-to-male. The needs of male-to-female individuals are much more known by information professionals than the needs of female-to-males. As the number of “out” female-to-male transsexuals grows and they begin expecting more information from their public librarians, we, as a profession, need to know how to best serve them.

To which AL replied by starting with a well-reasoned rhetorical slam-dunk before actually formulating a question or two:

Yes, it is a flippant topic. Are you seriously suggesting that transsexuals need to be "served" in some special informational way? Are we talking transsexuals who don't speak English, for example? By being transsexuals are they somehow unable to communicate with other human beings?

Yes, they do need to be served in a unique way. Re-read the commenter's quote above, and my addendum above it. That makes two us versus one of you. I hate to bear bad news: just because you don't believe it doesn't necessarily mean that you are correct. But don't take my, or the commenter's, word for it. Please ask some transsexuals about their info needs --as real researchers who actually care do-- instead of lumping them in with all the rest of your patrons the "normal morons". (Your morons are so lucky.) You just might find that they have legal questions about bathroom use depending on where they are in their transitions, questions about their workplace rights as they are transitioning, or their need to find endocrinologists who have experience and knowledge with cases like theirs.

C'mon, one of the first classes in information behavior at my library school had us examine the specific user profiles, information needs, and information behaviors of different groups of people. There is no "normal moron"; every patron, even those within a specific group, is different.

Secondly, what makes non-English speakers a valid group deserving special attention while transsexuals have no unique information needs? I understand that libraries are cash-strapped; please post the unfortunately-limited list of approved, unique user populations somewhere? Finally, aside from the possibility of violence against them, possible legal issues depending on their legal, physical sex versus their identified gender, and possible need to be candid depending on their work situation or public stature, for example, you are correct that transsexuals have no impediment to communicating their needs to others, especially to understanding, professional strangers such as yourself.

This all reminds me of the money that libraries are wasting on teen services. I mean, they're just little, inexperienced adults big children; they have no special needs, right? Anyway, who does this GLBTRT think it is, identifying populations within its purview and getting people with some knowledge about them to speak. The nerve.

Look, I appreciate snark, but when somebody courteously tries to enlighten you and you respond with flippancy, then you're just an arrogant, ignorant, self-righteous chump. Stay classy, AL!