The purpose of this study is to describe practical, generalizable competencies for reference librarians to promote civic engagement and social justice while assisting with…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to describe practical, generalizable competencies for reference librarians to promote civic engagement and social justice while assisting with politicized queries.
Design/methodology/approach
Working through an example of tension between land development and protection of an indigenous sacred place illustrates reference strategies that model an ideally inclusive community dialogue.
Findings
To promote civic engagement, librarians have a role to teach basic civics and to help identify opportunities for public comments and other “leverage points” in a system. An information trail for civic engagement is generated though an interaction between government planning, industry lobbying and citizen activism; it is supported by online and gray literature sources that typically fall outside of typical library collections and databases. A way to grapple with contentious and distorting political claims is to model ideal stakeholder inclusivity, a strategy that also helps to bring marginalized voices into the civic dialogue. Sources from the humanities express cultural and spiritual considerations that are absent from typical political discourse.
Research limitations/implications
Strategies are based on experience as a staff writer for a community magazine.
Practical implications
Specific strategies and competencies promote civic engagement during the time period allowed by a typical extended reference dialogue.
Social implications
An overly sunny view of community problem-solving glosses over some messy realities. To promote civic engagement, librarians must develop competencies to help citizens grapple with marginalization and distorting claims.
Originality/value
Calls to promote civic engagement and social justice in libraries require librarians to develop new competencies. Working through a case study illustrates specific knowledge and reference practices that support strong democracy.
Details
Keywords
Amanda B. Albert, Jamie L. Emery and Rebecca C. Hyde
This paper aims to apply the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education frame Information Creation as a Process to encourage student confidence in government…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to apply the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education frame Information Creation as a Process to encourage student confidence in government information. This approach will also help librarians address the continued erosion of trust in government exacerbated by campaigns of mis- and disinformation waged by the 45th President.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors examined recent literature on the public’s increased distrust of government under the 45th President, the impact of extreme skepticism on students, and the role instruction and government information librarians can play in addressing these issues. The authors used the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education frame Information Creation as a Process as a guide for teaching students about the complexities of government information creation processes and addressing student apprehension about utilizing government information in their academic research.
Findings
Research indicates that in the midst of a decline in public trust in government, librarians are fighting an uphill battle to encourage wary students to use government information for academic research. Librarians can combat this via targeted Framework-aligned instruction. An example of how the frame Information Creation as a Process can be applied to government information is presented.
Practical implications
For easy implementation of the ideas presented in this paper, learning outcomes and a sample lesson plan are provided.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the library literature on government information literacy and instruction as well as the Framework. It is the only paper that addresses the application of the frame Information Creation as a Process to government information.