With a new free book collection now available, the Raven Book Store is aiming to support local youths who are “perfectly queer.”

After spending time curating, the Raven has officially launched its Perfectly Queer Little Library (PQLL) project. Young readers ages 8 to 17 who identify as queer or who are questioning can visit the store and get a free book.

According to a post last week on the Raven’s Instagram page, readers contributed more than 160 books that include queer protagonists and are written by LGBTQ+ authors.

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

“Our hearts are overflowing and we are so honored that you all helped us turn this aspiration into a concrete reality,” the Instagram post says.

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

Partnering with the Lawrence Public Library, the Raven also dropped off the first stack of PQLL titles to be distributed as part of the library’s youth programming.

The Raven is located at 809 Massachusetts St. in downtown Lawrence. Its hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

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

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

• Instagram
• Twitter

Latest Lawrence news:

MORE …