To mark Transgender Visibility Day this March 31, all libraries in Cork County are setting up a phone line to help Transgender and gender diverse individuals register their preferred names and pronouns on their membership. Anyone who is waiting to receive or has already received a Gender Recognition Certificate will be able to access the service.

Cork County Council’s Library and Arts Services has decided to create a dedicated phone line from Library HQ which will facilitate the process of registering or changing membership details for Transgender people in any of the libraries in the county. The line will be available throughout the day on March 31 and calls will be answered by Library staff who have received gender identity awareness training to make sure that callers will have a positive experience and will be treated with sensitivity.

Happy Trans Visibility Day to all those within our community. #TransDayOfVisibility #TDOV pic.twitter.com/sIwNgzJsk4

— Gender Rebels Cork (@CorkGender) March 31, 2021

LGBTQ+ organisations Gay Project and Gender Rebels Cork have recently offered awareness training to the Council Library staff, explaining the difficulties that Transgender people face on a daily basis, amongst which is the challenging and costly process of legally changing one’s name and gender information. The service offered by Cork County libraries could make a big difference for some Transgender folks.

“At the beginning of coming out, many Trans people don’t have anything with their name on it. And the first time seeing it printed is a powerful moment,” explained Jack Fitzgerald from Gender Rebels Cork.

This is not the first time that the Cork County Council’s Library and Arts Services have shown their commitment to furthering the inclusion of Transgender folks and making sure libraries are a safe and welcoming space for them. Last year, they offered a similar service to show their solidarity on Transgender Visibility Day. Moreover, they have other initiatives aimed at fostering diversity, like their Inclusion Programme, within which is an LGBTQ+ specific programme. Moreover, they support an LGBTQ+ adult book club, with a collection of books on queer topics that you can find on this leaflet.

To celebrate International Transgender Day of Visibility, any transgender or gender diverse person across Cork county can contact us on March 31st to join the library or update their membership info to reflect their preferred gender & name. More at https://t.co/N4ZUpp6mUY#TDOV pic.twitter.com/xwRzZDpO2P

— Cork County Council Library & Arts Service (@corkcolibrary) March 29, 2021

“Inclusivity is at the heart of the Cork County Council Library and Arts Service ethos,” said Cork County Librarian Emer O’Brien. “As part of this ethos, we are delighted to play our part in recognising International Transgender Visibility Day on the 31st of March and supporting the Transgender and gender diverse community of Cork County.” 

The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Gillian Coughlan welcomed the initiative with joy, saying: “Libraries can be one of the most important public spaces for people looking to learn, to connect with their community and to unwind. This latest move from Cork County Library and Arts Services will go a way towards ensuring that Trans and gender diverse people can feel validated in their identity as they partake in the amazing benefits of library membership.”

The phone line will be active throughout the day on March 31 at this number: 021-4285645.