Nicole A. Cooke - Böcker

Talk of so-called fake news, what it is and what it isn’t, is front and center across the media landscape, with new calls for the public to acquire appropriate research and evaluation skills and become more information savvy. But none of this is new for librarians and information professionals, particularly for those who teach information literacy. Cooke, a Library Journal Mover & Shaker, believes that the current situation represents a golden opportunity for librarians to impart these important skills to patrons, regardless of their age or experience. In this Special Report, she demonstrates how. Readers will;learn more about the rise of fake news, particularly those information behaviors that have perpetuated its spread;discover techniques to identify fake news, especially online; andexplore methods to help library patrons of all ages think critically about information, teaching them ways to separate fact from fiction.Information literacy is a key skill for all news consumers, and this Special Report shows how librarians can make a difference by helping patrons identify misinformation.

Cooke’s important text, suitable for both graduate and undergraduate courses as well as current practitioners, outlines and examines the components of social justice that are most compelling and relevant for the library and information professions.Libraries serve all types of communities and diverse populations, and they are also part of the communities being served. As such, library staff need to be familiar with and capable of the social justice work that will allow them to advocate for, protect, and enhance their communities. Past winner of the ALA Equality Award and acclaimed scholar Cooke introduces this seminal concept to those new to the social justice lens, while also offering an authoritative and enlightening overview for those who are already familiar. Readers will   learn about the five main principles of social justice (access to resources, equity, participation, diversity, and human rights) and their historical context;understand how these principles apply to the practice of librarianship, both as aspirational goals and in day-to-day work;discover why common assumptions and misconceptions about social justice work can be toxic and are often counterproductive;explore topics such as social justice consciousness raising, action and advocacy, cultural competence, and anti-racism;get to know about relevant and related issues, including intersectionality, critical race theory, social justice storytelling, and critical pedagogies;practice self-reflection through compelling exercises and activities included throughout the text; andbe introduced to a hand-picked selection of key literature and sources that will illuminate the concept and encourage further study.

This textbook and comprehensive resource introduces students to the contexts and situations that promote the development of empathy and build cultural competence, examines the research in the areas of diversity and social justice in librarianship, explains how social responsibility is a foundational value of librarianship, and identifies potential employment and networking opportunities related to diversity and social justice in librarianship.

Filling a gap in the existing library and information science literature, this book consolidates recent research and best practices to address the need for diversity and social justice in the training and education of LIS professionals.The development of cultural competency skills and social awareness benefits LIS students, their future employers, and the library profession at large—not to mention library customers and society as a whole. This textbook and comprehensive resource introduces students to the contexts and situations that promote the development of empathy and build cultural competence, examines the research in the areas of diversity and social justice in librarianship, explains how social responsibility is a foundational value of librarianship, and identifies potential employment and networking opportunities related to diversity and social justice in librarianship.A valuable book for students in graduate library and information science programs as well as LIS practitioners and researchers interested in knowing more about the topic of diversity in the profession, Information Services to Diverse Populations: Developing Culturally Competent Library Professionals addresses the political, social, economic, and technological divides among library patrons, covers transformative library services, and discusses outreach and services to diverse populations as well as how to evaluate such services, among many other topics. Appendices containing suggestions for exercises and assignments as well as lists of related library organizations and readings in related literature provide readers with additional resources.

This volume shares some of the ways that librarians and library scholars are incorporating Critical Race Theory (CRT) into the field of library and information studies. CRT provides a theoretical and analytical lens through which librarians can challenge the ways race and racism harm shape library access, collections, discourses, and services, with the goal of instigating changes that lead to social justice.Chapter authors represent different points of views related to CRT from their unique perspective as members of minoritized groups and contributions move beyond generalized language and tackle topics directly related to race in America and how these affect the work in libraries. The way in which libraries and other information professions perpetuate racism are explored, alongside racist practices, as well as ideas on how information professionals can move beyond these systems and create institutions that support their patrons and create environments in which all are welcomed.Critical Race Theory in LIS fulfills a need for LIS literature to focus on race issues in the profession. The work is related to the larger umbrella of DEI work and will advance Social Justice issues in the profession but from a race perspective.

Learn how libraries can develop and use collections, space, resources, and programs to expand racial literacy in their communities.Libraries are no longer simply providers of basic literacy – they’re evolving to meet community needs for an expanding list of literacies: digital, health, information, financial. Racial Literacy in Libraries argues persuasively that libraries need to add racial literacy to that list. Its authors and contributors teach you how to understand and communicate about race and racism.Since readers are likely to begin with different backgrounds on race, Part One offers a primer written by experts on the science and history of skin color, the invention of race and racism in the United States, and the development of racial identity. Part Two helps librarians bridge the gap between theory and practice. Chapters discuss the important concepts of representation, equity, and access and offer practical examples of how to apply them in libraries, including through collection development. Part Three offers real-life examples of libraries across the country who are bringing racial literacy to their communities through collections, curated resources, and programs. A companion website offers tools you can use right away, whenever you’re ready to put your racial literacy learning into practice. All librarians who want to bring a more bias-free worldview to library work will benefit from this guide to racial literacy.

Learn how libraries can develop and use collections, space, resources, and programs to expand racial literacy in their communities.Libraries are no longer simply providers of basic literacy – they’re evolving to meet community needs for an expanding list of literacies: digital, health, information, financial. Racial Literacy in Libraries argues persuasively that libraries need to add racial literacy to that list. Its authors and contributors teach you how to understand and communicate about race and racism.Since readers are likely to begin with different backgrounds on race, Part One offers a primer written by experts on the science and history of skin color, the invention of race and racism in the United States, and the development of racial identity. Part Two helps librarians bridge the gap between theory and practice. Chapters discuss the important concepts of representation, equity, and access and offer practical examples of how to apply them in libraries, including through collection development. Part Three offers real-life examples of libraries across the country who are bringing racial literacy to their communities through collections, curated resources, and programs. A companion website offers tools you can use right away, whenever you’re ready to put your racial literacy learning into practice. All librarians who want to bring a more bias-free worldview to library work will benefit from this guide to racial literacy.