We use the Ex Libris Alma ILS and there you can choose 'preferred name' as an option and it is a searchable field when looking up patron accounts. This is not only helpful for people who have 'transitioned' but also for people who go by a nickname or use their middle name, etc. It just makes us a more accommodating, considerate, patron-friendly institution! I think there are more vendors and companies adapting to this more flexible way of patron accounting. Take care, Rebecca

On Wed, Oct 6, 2021 at 9:52 AM Janelle Bishop via Michlib-l <michlib-l@mcls.org> wrote:

Hello Everyone,

We are seeing more and more transitioning adults and teens in the library whose legal names are not their preferred names (and their legal names may not match their gender anymore). How is everyone handling this issue? Specifically with the information on their library accounts because I believe we have to put their legal name on their account. Are you putting their preferred names in their account somewhere?

In a related question: Does anyone put nicknames on patron's accounts? For example, a patron's legal name is Robert James Smith but goes by James. Do you have some note somewhere with James as a preferred name?

Any information on how you are handling this would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks,

Janelle

Janelle (Martin) Bishop
Head of Fiction
Marguerite deAngeli Library
Lapeer District Library

921 W. Nepessing St.

Lapeer, MI 48446
jmartin@lib.lapeer.org
810-664-6971 ext 3218

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Rebecca R. Daly, MLIS

Head Librarian

Sulo & Aileen Maki Library

Finlandia University

601 Quincy St.

Hancock, MI 49930

RIDES zf007
906-487-7253

Pronouns: she, her, hers