Exploring and Applying Critical Theory: An Introduction for Librarians (Library Juice Academy)

Critical approaches to librarianship help us think about the ways that our work is fundamentally political and theoretical. These approaches firmly assert that social justice should be central goal and professional responsibility of librarianship and are used, therefore, to inform more inclusive policy, curriculum, and communication. As critical librarianship gains in popularity and visibility there is a growing demand for spaces where beginners can explore and unpack what it means to be ‘critical.’

This course will aim to provide such a space, focusing specifically on theory as a core dimension of critical librarianship. Theory is often perceived as a barrier to entry for participation in critical conversations and practices, so this course will aim to explore what theory is and what it does, some fundamentals of theory, and how to identify theories and epistemologies that resonate with each practitioner. We will discuss (among others) the broad concepts of epistemology, ontology, empiricism/positivism, and social constructionism. In the course of exploring the basics of theory in this way, we will also critique how theory is often conceived of and used in scholarly discourse. We will end the course by exploring the way that theory informs practice towards social good (praxis).

Read more about the course and register here.