William Staubi Collection

I came out as a member of the GLBT Community later in life at 45 despite a gnawing sense of who I was decades prior to that. Growing up in small town New Brunswick, where there was no overt community and where big city tolerance had yet to reach, books, magazines, movies, and the rare TV show were important opportunities to recognize that one was not alone; even if some of those portrayals were not always helpful in forming a healthy perspective of gay life. Throughout my life books and libraries were places of refuge and comfort for me.

As an avid reader and book collector, it was natural that as I came out I expanded my collection to include more gay authors and works of interest to me as a member of the community. I had started sharing my collection through a process called Bookcrossing when a chance opportunity to catch an interview with Professor Miller and his efforts to create a Pride Library answered the question of what to do with the mountains of materials I had on hand. Supporting Prof. Miller's efforts to ensure there is a robust collection of materials for the study of gay issues, perspectives, and lives is a worthwhile channel for my own enthusiasm to understand the history, breadth, and dynamism of my own community.

It matters not to me that I am not an alumni of Western, nor that I will likely ever meet those who benefit from the donations; just as I'll never meet most of those who cleared the path for me to be able to be where I am. I'm just happy to do what I can.

Catalogue

• View the complete William Staubi Collection on the Western public catalogue

Covers