The Intersection of Academic Librarianship, Collaboration and Social Justice
Tara K Fitzpatrick, MLIS, Carol Zoppel, MLIS, Catherine Fahey, MLIS, MA
Description
Research and Instruction Librarians at Salem State University have increased the library’s profile through active participation in campus-wide activities which are tied to social justice and engage the community in unique ways. Librarian collaborations with academic departments, faculty, and campus groups help support college-wide events and learning related to social justice, while strengthening the library’s community role beyond traditional expectations. Collaborations include: annual Earth Day events; #BlackLivesMatter teach-ins; Wikipedia Education Program in an urban sociology classroom; a Women’s History Month Wiki-edit-a-thon; and the Center for Childhood and Youth Studies film discussion series.
Each endeavor is collaborative and interdisciplinary in nature and builds awareness of library resources as well as opportunities for partnerships. Additionally, these collaborations integrate the library into campus life in unexpected ways and give librarians the opportunity to support learning around issues of social justice in and out of the classroom. Support for these projects contributes to building stronger, more relevant library collections. Increased awareness of the need to apply a social justice lens to information literacy instruction has been a ripple effect of this work. These unique campus partnerships broaden the role of librarians, enabling them to become more active participants in campus culture and social justice efforts. It is through this active involvement in university life that they help ensure the library’s relevance within the institution.
Keyword Search Information
Library Types
Academic, Community College, Undergraduate
Subject Headings
Community Engagement, Librarianship, Outreach Services, Partnerships, Social Change
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