Informed Agitation: Library and Information Skills in Social Justice Movements and Beyond

by Melissa Morrone (Editor)

In librarianship today, we encourage voices from our field to join conversations in other disciplines as well as in the broader culture. People who work in libraries and are sympathetic to, or directly involved in, social justice struggles have long embodied this idea, as they make use of their skills in the service of those causes. From movement archives to zine collections, international solidarity to public library programming, oral histories to email lists, prisons to protests —and beyond —this book is a look into the projects and pursuits of activist librarianship in the early 21st century.

The target audience of this book consists of:
- People interested in going into librarianship who want an idea of nontraditional and activist areas in which librarians operate.
- Practicing library workers seeking inspiration for ways to combine their expertise with their political interests outside the library.
- Practicing library workers who want articulations of how their work fits into a broader context of power structures, politics, and social justice.
- Activists interested in collaborations with library workers and/or projects related to literature, information, education, and documentation in social movements.
- People in other fields who want to draw connections between their own work and social justice goals, and are looking for supportive literature.

Genres: Nonfiction, Social Justice, Librarianship, Academic, Sociology, Library Science, Activism

326 pages, Paperback

First published February 7, 2014

Reviews

[amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good counter-point to the way "service" for library & archives people is now professionalized as a job requirement: "service to the profession" on your own time, rather than taking actions that could materially improve the conditions of people's lives. Also triggered a lot of the trouble I have with movement work & workers reproducing power dynamics from the rest of the world without introspection. The authors are very reflective; just to say that I share their frustration with some of the situations they describe.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got a chapter in this, so my 5 stars are for the amazing stuff by everyone else.

[Amy Layton · Rating 4 out of 5]

INCREDIBLE.  Discussing a variety of institutions such as archives, public libraries, and academic libraries, this plethora of voices and essays come together to create an engaging and dynamic book attesting to the importance of community collaboration.  When Occupy Wall Street occurred, librarians created a library for them.  When time and money are needed, librarians and archivists help with the Lesbian Herstory Archives.  They help with creating ListServs for housing.  They catalog and provide zines for their libraries.  They offer grassroots programs and opportunities for oral librarianship.

What these librarians do and have done is absolutely amazing, and only further serves the notion that librarianship and social justice are innately intertwined.  As the center of a community, it is necessary and impactful for librarians to take part in the goings-on around them.  

Each author brings something completely new to the table, suggests something innovative, argues for necessities.  Overall, this book is a must-read for those interested in supporting communities in the midst of our political climate.

Review cross-listed here!

[Mills College Library]

021.2 I439 2014

[Jade]

3.5 - 4 stars