Quatrefoil Library

Today is Give to the Max Day and Quatrefoil Library needs your support to meet our goal! https://www.givemn.org/organization/Quatrefoil-Library
Dear Patrons, Volunteers, & Friends of the Library,
Quatrefoil Library is a special place. For nearly forty years we have served as one of the only free LGBTQ+ lending-libraries in the nation, and we continue to be entirely volunteer-led and run. That’s right – for decades we have championed access to LGBTQ+ literature, materials, and media, all carefully curated and upheld solely through the support and engagement of our community.

Matching Grant for Give to the Max 2024
Thanks to a generous gift from an anonymous donor, the first $10,000 donated will have a 50% matching grant. That means every dollar you give to Quatrefoil Library will go 50% further to help us support expanding access to community spaces and literature. Every donation, no matter the amount, helps us reach this goal and builds a future where every q***r person can feel seen and connected within their community. Please donate today and share with your friends so we can continue to provide outstanding community connections.

🌈Hey lovely folx---please take a look👀. You might have a book (or a few books) 📚---that need to be returned! We have a book drop next to the back door--if you don't have time to stop in--we get it! ⬇️📚🙏💜

The Quatrefoil Library will be closed TONIGHT, Friday August 23rd, for building maintenance. We apologize for the inconvenience. However, we will be open during regular hours this weekend.

Unfortunately, our reading of the “The Body of a Frog: A memoir on Self-Loathing, Self-Love and Transgender Pregnancy” by Arron Sholar tomorrow Sunday August 4th 1:00-3pm has been postponed. We will let you all know when we have a new date and time.

We hope that you will consider attending our next and event in our Summer Memoir series a reading of “Fatherland, Motherland” by Leo Rodriguez Saturday August 10th 2-4pm. Thank you for your continued support and we hope to see you at the library in the future!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1006396411148544

THIS SUNDAY! Join us for the second event in our Summer Memoir Series in the Library at 1pm!

After undergoing a satisfying gender transition from female to male, the idea of having a biological child seemed far from Aarron Sholar’s thoughts. However, when he met the love of his life, he made the life-altering decision to pause his transition and embark on the journey to conceive a baby. This newfound endeavor triggered a deep period of reflection, doubt, and anxiety.

The Body of a Frog narrates the story of a young girl who grew up despising her own body. Aarron struggled with body image and self-identity, coming out as transgender at the age of seventeen after being diagnosed with gender dysphoria. His journey led him through a transformative gender transition, realigning his body with his male identity. While content in his changed body, in 2021, he met his now-fiancé, and after two years of dating, they made the life-changing decision to start the process of conceiving a child.

In The Body of a Frog: A Memoir on Self-Loathing, Self-Love, and Transgender Pregnancy, Sholar offers a raw, authentic account of his experiences. He navigates the complexities of his body, the transition journey, and the unexpected possibility of pregnancy with a heartfelt and introspective approach. This memoir explores the full spectrum of emotions, from the positive to the challenging, from the clear to the perplexing, shedding light on the intersections of self-identity, love, and the miracle of life.

On Tuesday! July 16th at 7pm, enjoy hearing author Reid Vanderburgh read selections from his memoir: Work in Progress. Reading will be followed by Q&A and social time. This event is the first in Quatrefoil Library's Summer Memoir Series. Check out the event on our page!

This book presents a deeply personal point of view. I leave it to others to write histories of trans people at a more sociological level. Trans people need to tell our stories to each other, to provide this continuity that has been sadly lacking in previous times. Isolation and feelings of being negatively unique are common among many trans people, in part because this historical continuity has been lacking. It’s an overwhelming proposition, writing this autobiography; all the layers co-exist from the beginning, and my story can be told from perspectives as superficial as my outward appearance, to the deepest subconscious thoughts and feelings buried in my mind from my earliest childhood. When one questions gender, one is questioning the bedrock of one’s existence as a human being and the archaeology involved is formidable.

The Summer Memoir Series is here! Come join Quatrefoil Library for our Summer Event Series of authors reading from their memoirs! Readings will be followed by a Q&A with the authors, and a social hour that may include opportunities to purchase signed copies of the books read. See the list of events below and check out the events on our page to see details for each. It is going to be a fun summer, and we hope to see you there!

Work in Progress by Reid Vanderburgh
Tuesday, July 16th, 7:00 pm

The Body of a Frog: A Memoir on Self-Loathing, Self-Love, and Transgender Pregnancy by Aarron Sholar
Sunday, August 4th, 1:00 pm

Fatherland, Motherland by Leo Rodriguez
Saturday, August 10th, 2:00 pm

Wild Things: A Trans-Glam-Punk-Rock Love Story by Lynette Raini-Grandell
Saturday, August 17th, 2:00 pm

Following My Spirit Home by Sam Zimmerman
Sunday, September 1st, 2:00 pm

QUATREFOIL PARKING LOT CLOSED!
On Thursday, May 23, 2024, a construction company will begin a seal coating project which will require ALL VEHICLES be removed from the parking lot beginning at 8am and must stay off of the lot until Friday, May 24, 2024 at 4pm. Please use street parking when visiting us during this time, and note that we will be open for normal hours during this process. Thank you, we look forward to seeing you.

THIS SATURDAY! Join us at Quatrefoil Library for the fourth and final event in our series on Q***r Migration!

You may have heard that Minnesota has become a “Trans Refuge State”, local coalition MNTIRN is working hard to ensure that trans and non-binary folx coming into the state are supported.

This Saturday, May 18th, come learn more about the work being done to make Minnesota a safer place for trans people, and how you can get involved. Hosted by Ash Tifa, Legal Program Coordinator at Rainbow Health.

No RSVP required. Walk in and participate! https://qlibrary.org/event/q***r-migration-series-4/

Graphic Credit: Eden Walech
Photo Credit: Shann Daniels via diversifylens

THIS SATURDAY! Join us at Quatrefoil Library for the third event in our series on Q***r Migration!

Displaced, Migrated, Transformed: a QTBIPOC Writing Workshop. How do we nurture community in diaspora, in spite of and because of and beyond the trauma of displacement? Bringing together the themes of q***r migration and of Black, Indigenous, People of Color’s historical and continual displacement, we will read and discuss a couple of poems by q***r and trans writers of color. Then we will explore several writing prompts about our migration as individuals, as given and chosen families, as a community, and how we are transformed and how we transform ourselves in the process.

This Saturday, May 11th, QTBIPOC creatives can participate in the workshop facilitated by Pauline Moll: a poet, trauma-informed teaching artist, and creative arts therapist. Writers of any experience level are welcome, from “non-writers” to published authors. Participants are welcome to bring their personal laptops, notebooks, or other writing tools, but writing supplies will also be provided. This workshop will be an affinity space for q***r and trans BIPOC.

No RSVP required. Walk in and participate! https://qlibrary.org/event/q***r-migration-series-3/

Graphic Credit: Eden Walech
Photo Credit: Shann Daniels via diversifylens

THIS SATURDAY! Join us at Quatrefoil Library for the second event in our series on Q***r Migration!

This event will examine the ways migration directly impacts mental health! A licensed practitioner will provide psychoeducation on the trauma of having to flee your home, what to expect from your body in the weeks/months/years after it realizes you’re in a safe place, how to slowly get out of dorsal vagal shutdown.

This Saturday, May 4th, Sierra Tuck of Open Door Counseling invites you to learn a few somatic exercises to use when feeling overwhelmed, as well as connect with local mental health and q***r social resources.

No RSVP required. Walk in and participate! https://qlibrary.org/event/q***r-migration-series-2/

Graphic Credit: Eden Walech
Photo Credit: Shann Daniels via diversifylens

THIS SATURDAY! Join us at Quatrefoil Library for the first event in our series on Q***r Migration!

Minnesota has become a refuge for q***r individuals fleeing their homes to escape discrimination, violence, and anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation. This rise of LGBTQIA+ migration worldwide has been called the “silent refugee crisis.” Sadly, the vast majority of q***r refugees do not feel safe enough to speak about their experiences. Personal narratives from these q***r refugees are, unfortunately, far too rare.

This Saturday, April 27th, the Twin Cities Q***r Transplants invite you to hear our stories and participate in breaking our silence. Members of our community will share their relocation stories, hardships, and triumphs as we heal together.

No RSVP required. Walk in and participate! https://qlibrary.org/event/q***r-migration-series-1/

Graphic Credit: Eden Walech
Photo Credit: Shann Daniels from diversifylens

Come browse our 🌈Q***r Arab & Arab-American book display created in collaboration with Arab Lit collective 💜 running thru April 27th! We are always looking for additions to our collection, so if you know of a read📖 or film 🎦 we are missing--please DM! We will add it ASAP 🙏send extra love & gratitude to the translators!!! 💗👏🙏

Here is the list of our current physical holdings (some and more available in our Q Digital collection Libby App

Please share favorites & reviews in comments! Help make our collection more accessible!

Reads

Birthright | George Abraham (Button Poetry, 2022) Mizna -- George is the exec editor!

Between Banat: Q***r Arab Critique and Transnational Arab Archives | Mejdulene Bernard Shomali (Duke Univ Press, 2023)

Mejdulene Bernard | Shomali (Duke Univ Press, 2023)

This Arab is Q***r: An Anthology by LGBTQ+ Arab Writers | ed. Elias Jahshan (Saqi Books, 2022)

Blood Feast: The Complete Short Stories of Malika Moustadraf | Malika Moustadraf, Tr. Alice Guthrie (Feminist Press, 2022)

Always Coca-Cola | Alexandra Chreiteh (Interlink Books, 2011)

A Tale of Two Omars: A Memoir of Family, Revolution, and Coming Out During the Arab Spring

Omar Sharif (Counterpoint, 2022)

Love Is an Ex-Country: A Memoir | Randa Jarrar (Catapult, 2023)

Man O’ War | Cory McCarthy (Dutton Books for Young Readers, 2023)


The Wrong End of the Telescope | Rabi Alameddine (Grove Press, 2022)

Freedom in This Village: Twenty-Five Years of Black Gay Men's Writing, 1979 to the Present
E Lynn Harris (Da Capo Press, 2004)

In the Spider’s Room | Muhammad Abdelnabi, Trans. Jonathan Wright (Hoopoe, 2018)

Without You | Younis Alakhzami, trans Michelle Hartman & Caline Nasrallah (Dar Arab, 2021)

The Stone of Laughter | Hoda Barakat (Interlink Books, 1995)

Bilal’s Bread | Nick Wilgus (Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016)

An Arab Melancholia | Abdellah Taia, trans. Frank Stock

A Map of Home | Randa Jarrar (Penguin Publishing Group, 2009)

The Others | Seba Al-Herz (Seven Stories Press 2009)

Wanting in Arabic: poems | Trish Salah (Tsar publications, 2013)

Watch

Breaking Fast (DVD)

No Hard Feelings (DVD)

NEW SERIES: Quatrefoil Library invites you to attend our Spring Event Series on Q***r Migration!

Starting Saturday, April 27th, this series hosted in the library space will explore the joys, challenges, oppression, and transformation that members of our community have lived through in their migratory experiences. Throughout all this, LGBTQ+ folks have learned to rely on one another and build community in Minnesota as they set new roots, and we want to honor their stories and celebrate their legacy.

Our first event at Quatrefoil Library on the 27th will be “Moving Out: Stories of the Silent Q***r Migration” organized by The Twin Cities Q***r Trans-Plants, a group of folks building support and comradery for those who have recently relocated to the Twin Cities.

Scroll through to see the full event line up, we hope to see you there! https://qlibrary.org/events ***r ***rart

Hello past, present, and future volunteers of the Quatrefoil Library! Just a reminder that we are celebrating YOU this Saturday at 5pm. The Library is putting on a Volunteer Appreciation Night this Saturday, February 17th, from 5pm to 8pm at Quatrefoil (1220 E Lake St, Minneapolis). There will be live programming, awards, prizes, q***r trivia, food, and good company. Registered volunteers should have the RSVP link in your email. We hope to see you there!