In June 2022, historian Tara Sypniewski opened the Ottawa Trans Library. Almost a year and a half later, the place has transformed in all aspects. I had the opportunity to sit down with Sypniewski and talk about all the things going on in the library, from its ever-growing book collection to the events it regularly puts on.
The Ottawa Trans Library. Photo: Vasileios Tselios.
Apt613: How has the community in the library grown since your opening?
Tara Sypniewski: Well, it’s been gradual. We had a pretty good media response, you know. I’m always taken aback by how important it [the library] has become to the community. We have visitors coming in from all over Canada who happen to be in Ottawa and drop in because it’s a unique place. We have tremendous support from the LGBTQ+ community, and I say that because it’s not just trans people who see the benefit of this place.
Do people use the library more as a resource or as a safe public space?
I think it tilts more towards people using it as a safe space. All libraries are community spaces, essentially. There is a very strong number of people who come here for the library. The library is the heart of the place, so you can’t take one away from the other.
Photo: Vasileios Tselios.
You put on a lot of weekly events; could you speak a little bit about those?
Board game night, which we started from the very beginning. The demographic is usually late teens to early 20s. This is an important evening, particularly for that specific demographic. When I first started, I wasn’t even going to collect young adult books, because the public library has such a collection already. But because the element of the safe space has become really important, [for] young trans people and gender-diverse people, this space has become important. So, board game night is quite popular and it’s a place for people to meet [and] have fun.
We have non-binary social nights as well, and that evolved because the non-binary community is not as well-understood, perhaps, and they didn’t have as many places to meet other non-binary people.
Can you speak about the positive impact the parents’ coffee hour event has had?
I can only speak to the parents’ reaction and they are really grateful that there is an opportunity to meet other parents. I am not a parent myself, but having other parents speak to other parents is really helpful.
Can you speak a little bit about the Trans Joy Quilt program?
A group called the Friendly Local Quiltqueers came to us with this wonderful idea to build a quilt. They left it to us to invite people to create their own little squares on the theme of trans joy. So people made their own little squares, and then the Friendly Local Quiltqueers put them together in this large quilt. We had it up here from October until last week and everyone really appreciated it. We are going to keep it always on display.
The Ottawa Trans Joy quilt. Photo: Vasileios Tselios.
How has your book catalogue developed since the opening of the library?
When we first opened, we had 190 [books] and we are up to 700 now. When I first started, I didn’t have any young adult books, but then parents donated some and after we saw how important the demographic was, we started collecting them and acquiring them ourselves. And then after that, the kids’ books came in. There are parents who come in and sit with their kids and read to them. I must admit that it surprised me, but I love it. I’m really touched by the love that parents have for their kids.
When did you decide to have art displayed in the library?
It was always in the back of my mind. When I opened two years ago, I was trying to focus on the positives in the trans community and I know that a lot of creative people did not have an opportunity to show their art. This would be a great place to do it, so I always had this idea in the back of my mind. I knew that art would have been the easiest thing for this space. The idea was to give a broader expression to the community.
Art by Julie Cee Cheff. Photo: Vasileios Tselios.
If people want to support your work, how can they do it?
There is a donations page on the library’s website. I should add that a number of local groups have been generous to us. They get in touch with us and ask us, “do you mind if we hold a fundraiser for you?” Libraries are community spaces and I’m really glad that people are recognizing that.
The Ottawa Trans Library is located at 1104 Somerset St. W. For more information on their events and happenings, you can visit their website. You can donate to the library online or by visiting in person and scanning a QR code. Until March 31, the library is hosting an art display by Julie Cee Cheff, a trans artist.
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