Clarification: The original version of this story did not distinguish that Fresno State's collection of gay and lesbian literature is the nation's largest collection for children and young adults -- readers up to about age 18. That distinction has been added to the story.

As Valley school districts cautiously prepare to incorporate lessons about gay and lesbian people's contributions into social studies classes, Fresno State is offering a resource to help – the nation's largest collection of gay and lesbian literature for children and young adults.

California State University, Fresno, received donations of about 500 gay- and lesbian-themed books months before a state law passed in July that requires schools to include the role and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans in social studies courses.

The timing was coincidental. The donors, two literary enthusiasts in the Midwest, wanted to share their collections with students and professors, and last fall and winter gave them to Fresno State's Arne Nixon Center for youth and children's literature. One of the donors is an Arne Nixon Center board member.

Fresno State is eager to share the collection with Valley high schools, and preparations are under way to create a traveling book exhibition that would be accompanied by experts to speak about gay and lesbian rights and homophobia, said Angelica Carpenter, founding curator at the Arne Nixon Center. She said the center still needs to raise about $10,000 for the project, slated to start in the spring.

Teachers could use the books for research on gay-rights leaders, to better understand gay students' struggles and to generate class discussions, according to several Arne Nixon Center staff and Fresno State education professors.

Gift from afar

The collection started with a gift from Michael Cart, an Arne Nixon Center board member and former director of the Beverly Hills Public Library. Cart, who now lives in Indiana, said there is a shortage of gay- and lesbian-themed books and hopes his donation will give more people access to the literature. Cart's donation inspired a gift from Kathleen T. Horning, an expert on gay and lesbian literature at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Books include the story of Harvey Milk, San Francisco's first openly gay city official; an overview of the history of the struggle for gay equality in America; and coming-out narratives from gay youth. Carpenter said she has received pledges for more donations, and the collection continues to grow.

Hoover High School's Gay Straight Alliance would "jump at the chance" to have the traveling book exhibition stop at the school, said club President Jonah Bassman. The books could help students understand the struggles gay youths face and encourage tolerance, Bassman said.

"I think it would be a great idea," he said. "If it makes a difference about one person getting bullied ... then it's worth it."

How – or if – local schools would open their doors to the book collection remains to be seen.

Fresno Unified School District has formed a committee to plan how schools will teach gay and lesbian history, but spokeswoman Susan Bedi declined to offer details. She did not respond to questions about whether Fresno Unified would allow the traveling book exhibit at district high schools.

Clovis Unified School District spokeswoman Kelly Avants said the district was unaware of the collection. She added it was too early to comment on whether or how the district might use it.