Cruising the Library

Cruising the Library by Melissa Adler is a thought-provoking exploration of how library classifications have historically organized concepts of sexuality and sexual perversion. Published by Fordham University Press in 2017, this insightful paperback spans 248 pages, delving into the intricacies of the Library of Congress Subject Headings and Classification. Adler meticulously examines the Delta Collection, a once-restricted repository of obscenity that remained inaccessible until 1964. Through her analysis, she sheds light on the intersection of information organization, social sciences, and the representation of sexual minorities within library systems. This book is essential for anyone interested in the philosophy of classification, the evolution of library practices, and the ongoing discourse surrounding sexuality in the United States. Discover how the cataloging of knowledge shapes our understanding of diverse identities and social constructs in Cruising the Library.