The Gender and Sexuality Center is home to the Ana Sisnett Library. We have a large collection of literature in the GSC, including books, magazines, and DVDs all available for checking out. View our entire collection on Tiny Cat and check out our Reading Lists to find library books about specific topics.
Read some of our history below.
In Fall 2009, the Women’s Resource Agency (formerly the Women’s Resource Center) became a part of the GSC brought with its library over 150 books.
In July 2010 GSC staff recognized the books and films on our shelves to emphasize the connection between these resources and the movements and disciplines with which our communities are involved. The new shelves are labeled with sections titles: Feminist Studies, Queer Studies, Coming Out, Life Skills, etc.
In 2011 the GSC renamed its library the Ana Sisnett Library to recognize Sisnett’s powerful work around access and technological literacy in underserved Austin communities. Sisnett was executive director of Austin Free-Net and was involved with allgo: Texas’ statewide queer people of color organization and Alma de Mujer land and organization of the Indigenous Women’s Network.
The GSC’s library is one of the Center’s most popular resources. It inspires many students to find and use the GSC explicitly to explore and check out materials. When asked why they use the library, one student emphasized the validation of the collection: “so many subsets of people and groups are represented when they usually wouldn’t be.”
If you’d ever like to support The Ana Sisnett Library, feel free to buy any books off of our wishlist or donate books, magazines or DVD’s of your own. Visit the GSC at the William C Powers Jr. Student Activity Center 2.112 to browse the collection in person. If you are a student who would like to request that we add a book to our library, you may request any additions here.
Thank you!
Also, check out Austin Public Library and the UT Libraries.
Interested in learning more about Ana Sisnett’s life and impact in the community?
Check out some of the ways she’s been mentioned and honored around Austin!
Daily Texan Article, “Activist alumna honored in library naming”
Mural by The Mosaic Workshop, “Ana ‘Technomama’ Sisnett”
Austin Chronicle, “Remembering Ana Sisnett”
Austin Chronicle, “Ana Sisnett 1952-2009“
