Social Justice and Library Work: A Guide to Theory and Practice

✍ Scribed by Stephen Bales

• Publisher: Chandos Publishing (Elsevier)
• Year: 2017
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 201
• Series: Chandos Information Professional Series
• Edition: 1 (eBook)
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Although they may not have always been explicitly stated, library work has always had normative goals. Until recently, such goals have largely been abstract; they are things like knowledge creation, education, forwarding science, preserving history, supporting democracy, and safeguarding civilization. The modern spirit of social and cultural critique, however, has focused our attention on theconcrete, materialrelationships that determine human potentiality and opportunity, and library workers are increasingly seeing the institution of the library, as well as library work, as embedded in a web of relations that extends beyond the library’s traditional sphere of influence. In light of this critical consciousness, more and more library and information science professionals are coming to see themselves as change agents and front-line advocates of social justice issues. This book will serve as a guide for those library workers and related information professionals that disregard traditional ideas of "library neutrality" and static, idealized conceptions of Western culture. The book will work as an entry point for those just forming a consciousness oriented towards social justice work and will be also be of value to more experienced "transformative library workers" as an up-to-date supplement to their praxis.

✦ Table of Contents

Front Cover
Social Justice and Library Work
Copyright Page
Dedication
Contents
Preface
1 Introduction
1.1 A Preliminary Note Concerning Terminology
1.2 Introduction: Theory, Practice, Praxis, and Library Work
1.3 Objectives of this Guide
1.4 What is Social Justice?
1.5 Social Justice and Library Work
1.6 Prominent Threads in Transformative Library Research for Practice
1.7 Who can be a Transformative Library Worker? A Call for Inclusion
1.8 The Rest of the Guide (and How to Use It)
1.8.1 Chapter 2—Theory: Intellectual Materials for Transformative Librarianship
1.8.2 Chapter 3—Practice: Tools for Transformative Librarians
1.8.3 Chapter 4—Praxis: Theory in Practice
1.8.4 Chapter 5—Conclusion: The Transformative Library Worker
References
2 Theory: Intellectual Building-Blocks for Transformative Librarianship
2.1 Introduction
2.1.1 Foundations for a Social Justice Praxis in the Library
2.1.2 Political Economy, Labor, Class, and LIS
2.1.3 Critical Information Literacy
2.1.4 Diversity and LIS
2.1.4.1 Women and LIS
2.1.4.2 LGBT and LIS
2.1.4.3 Race, Ethnicity, and LIS
2.1.4.4 The Disabled and LIS
References
3 Practice: Tools for Transformative Library Work
3.1 Introduction
3.2 News, Commentary, and Blogs
3.3 Online Information Hubs and Portals
3.4 Subscription Online Databases, Indexes, and Directories
3.5 Free Online Databases, Indexes, and Directories
3.6 Reference Resources (Print and Electronic)
3.7 Legal Resources
3.8 Organizations, Associations, and Advocacy Groups
3.8.1 LIS-Specific Resources
3.8.2 Non-LIS-Specific Resources
3.9 Professional Networking Tools and Opportunities
3.10 Projects, Programs, and Initiatives
3.11 Training Programs, Courses, and Materials
3.12 Toolkits
3.13 Publishing Outlets (Periodicals)
3.14 Publishing Outlets (Books)
3.15 Grants and Awards
References
4 Praxis: Theory in Practice
4.1 Introduction
4.2 ARL Diversity and Leadership Programs: With Mark A. Puente, Director (Jan. 17, 2017)
4.2.1 Takeaways
4.3 The 2016 Los Angeles Anarchist Book Fair: With Javier Sethness, Organizer (Jan. 16, 2017)
4.3.1 Takeaways
4.4 Free Government Information: With James R. Jacobs, Cofounder (Mar. 7, 2017)
4.4.1 Takeaways
4.5 Lesbian Herstory Archives: With Deborah Edel, Cofounder (Jan. 24, 2017)
4.5.1 Takeaways
4.6 Librarians and Archivists With Palestine: With Hannah Mermelstein, Cofounder (Feb. 16, 2017)
4.6.1 Takeaways
4.7 Seattle Public Library, Books on Bikes Program: With Jared L. Mills, Founder (Feb. 17, 2017)
4.7.1 Takeaways
4.8 Occupy Wall Street Library: With Zachary Loeb, Occupy Librarian (Nov. 21, 2016)
4.8.1 Takeaways
References
5 Conclusion: The Transformative Library Worker
5.1 Introduction
5.2 A Political Clarity and Commitment
5.3 An Attitude of Theoretical Inquisitiveness Tempered by a Critical Consciousness
5.4 An Attitude of Postprofessionalism
5.5 Conclusion
References
Index
Back Cover