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'It Gets Better Project' Finds Support In Male Librarian Pin-Up Calendar (SLIDESHOW)

SLIDESHOW: Steamy Male Librarians Strip Down To Fundraise For 'It Gets Better' Campaign
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Editor, Black Voices

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Forget the stereotypical crabby female librarian with a tight bun and nerdy glasses. The Men of the Stacks project introduces 12 steamy bibliophiles in a pin-up calendar to support struggling LGBT youth.

The Men of the Stacks project hopes to promote a more inclusive representation of librarians, while also supporting the "It Gets Better Project," the video movement that offers inspiring testimonials about life beyond bullying in the high school hallways.

Since its Sept. 27 release, the project has sold more than 550 copies and has raised more than $8,000, said Megan Perez of the Men of the Stacks.

"We can't just leave it to others to tell the people who we are," one of the models explains on the organization's website. "That's why the stereotypes about librarians continue to flourish. We have to be the ones to go out there and tell people who we are."

WATCH

Zack-January (01 of12)
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A New York City resident, Zack spends his time outside of his office as the director and assistant coach for a men's rugby club. When he has free time on the weekends, he works as an EMT for the Central Park Medical Unit. (credit:Courtesy of Men of the Stacks)
Eric-February (02 of12)
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Haling from Austin, Texas, this husband and father works as a digital services manager, regulating the library website. Eric is a doctoral student at Simmons College and enjoys running in his spare time. (credit:Courtesy of Men of the Stacks)
Brett-March(03 of12)
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Brett is a part-time PhD student in Library and Information Science at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J. He is the director of the Collingswood Public Library and the treasurer of the New Jersey Library Association. Brett practices yoga during his free time and his favorite color is orange. (credit:Courtesy of Men of the Stacks)
Mario-April (04 of12)
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Mario is the library director at the Corcoran Gallery of Art. He lives in Washington D.C. with his husband and says he is one of the few Latino library directors working in the museum and college setting. (credit:Courtesy of Men of the Stacks)
Sol-May (05 of12)
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An Arizona native, Sol manages a large branch library in the south side of Tucson. He graduated from the University of Arizona in 2004 and is married with three children. (credit:Courtesy of Men of the Stacks)
Von-June (06 of12)
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Von is a doctoral candidate at the University of Toronto. He is also a licensed librarian in the Philippines and runs a blog called Filipino Librarian. (credit:Courtesy of Men of the Stacks)
Steve-July (07 of12)
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A Chicago-based reference librarian and professor, Steve also dabbles in web design and programming. Before joining the world of books, Steve worked in produce at Whole Foods. He is also a music fanatic who enjoys teaching his 5-year-old the history of rock. (credit:Courtesy of Men of the Stacks)
Trevor-August (08 of12)
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Born in Jamaica, Trevor moved to New York with his family at age 13. He is a public services librarian who loves to cook and bake in his spare time. (credit:Courtesy of Men of the Stacks)
Josiah-September (09 of12)
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Josiah is a public services manager at the Mohammed VI Library of Al Akhawayn University in Morocco. He's originally from North Carolina and got his bachelors in psychology from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. (credit:Courtesy of Men of the Stacks)
Damon-October (10 of12)
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Damon is a Chicago resident who has been toiling away at various libraries for 11 years. He likes to spend his free time exercising, listening to music and baking. (credit:Courtesy of Men of the Stacks)
Megan-November (11 of12)
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Megan is a blogger whose favorite food is salmon. He says doing what he is passionate about makes him feel "authentic." (credit:Courtesy of Men of the Stacks)
Gabriel-December (12 of12)
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A self-proclaimed "obsessive compulsive" man, Gabriel compartmentalized his sock drawer at a young age and found the detail-oriented nature of the librarian job to be a perfect fit for him. Gabriel spends his spare time playing soccer and snorkeling, and his favorite colors are pink and black. (credit:Courtesy of Men of the Stacks)

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