Raven Book Store opens free book collection for queer youth – The Lawrence Times

July 7, 2024

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With a new, free book collection, Raven Book Store wants to support local youth who are “perfectly queer.”

After some time of curation, the Raven has now officially launched its Perfectly Queer Little Library (PQLL) project. Young readers ages 8 to 17 who identify as queer or have questions about it can visit the store and pick up a free book.

According to a post on Raven’s Instagram page last week, readers have contributed more than 160 books featuring queer protagonists written by LGBTQ+ authors.

Wulfe Wulfemeyer, marketing coordinator and bookseller at Raven, said in introducing the project that books are an “essential part” of creating safety for LGBTQ+ people, especially in light of anti-trans legislation and rhetoric.

“Our hearts are overflowing and we are so honored that you all helped us make this wish a reality,” the Instagram post reads.

The library features queer romance and coming-of-age novels, science fiction stories with queer main characters, books on queer identity terminology, and more. There was also an intention to represent Indigenous queer and Two-Spirit identities.

In collaboration with the Lawrence Public Library, the Raven also delivered the first batch of PQLL titles to be distributed as part of the library’s youth program.

Raven is located at 809 Massachusetts St. in downtown Lawrence. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

For more information about the PQLL and updates on its progress, visit Raven’s Instagram page at @ravenbookstore.

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Maya Hodison (she/her), stocks reporter, can be reached at mhodison (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com. Read more about her work for the Times here. Check out her employee bio here.

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