Reference Librarianship & Justice: History, Practice & PRAXIS

by Kate Adler (Editor), Ian Beilin (Editor), Eamon Tewell (Editor)

Reference work often receives short shrift in the contemporary discourse and practice of librarianship. Reference Librarianship & History, Practice & Praxis highlights the unique position of reference librarianship, a liminal and dialectical space, potentially distinct from the power dynamics of classroom instruction and singular in its mission and practice. At heart, reference is a conversation and partnership. The stakes are significant, not only because of the unique potential for social justice work but because of the risk that the profession is now overlooking reference's central importance. This book makes a passionate case for reference work in a manner that is historically, socially and politically compelling. The book's three sections explore the praxis, history and practice of reference librarianship in the context of social justice. Praxis grounds us theoretically while seeking to trouble and broaden traditional academic conventions, drawing on diverse epistemological frameworks and disciplines both inside and outside of LIS literatures. History grounds us in the past and makes the case that reference librarianship has a long tradition of social justice work, providing intellectual access, partnership and guidance from the Jim Crow South to the War on Poverty. Finally, Dispatches from the Field explores the contemporary practice of social-justice oriented reference librarianship, in prisons, in archives and beyond. We see how the rich genealogy of social justice in reference librarianship is at work today.

Genres: Librarianship, Professional Development, Nonfiction

322 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2018

Reviews

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is yet another impressive Library Juice publication. It explores reference and information services provided by libraries including public libraries using a social justice approach. Different theoretical frameworks are used for each chapter, but they all relate to how social justice is addressed by libraries. There is a focus on information for people who have been silenced, and who are powerless.

In the forward it says 'as described by this book, reference work advances the work of social justice through collecting and making accessible materials pertaining to groups who would normally be erased or dismissed, as well as through the people in doing such work, such as approaching reference work through a lens that seeks to humanize what is sometimes a dehumanizing process, the vulnerability of having a need and asking someone to meet that need.'

This book is important for highlighting that reference and information work can have a social justice role. With the many changes to reference and information services that role is by no means certain, and many of the service changes seem designed to remove that service for the community. This book reminds us of why the ability for someone to come to the library and ask a question, or the library to go out and about to help people with their questions is important, and can be literally life changing.

Reading this books challenges one to look at how reference and information services are provided at your own library, both in and outside the building. Whose enquiries are you privileging?

This book is not always easy reading, but it is well worth reading. I have many ideas I want to follow up on as a result of reading this book.

[Charles Cobine · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a librarian who is now working remotely and online with patrons during the Covid-19 stay-at-home era in the urban Northeast, I had this book on hand for some professional reading, and only after I was at home with a tower of books to read did I move on to this collection of essays. I have always felt strongly about reference librarianship, and I was excited to see this book arrive in 2018. The shift away from the 20th-century traditional reference desk makes me feel it is even more timely to explore the importance of reference librarians' work and how it intersects with critical thinking and social justice in a number of ways. It was a reflective exercise to read through the essays in this book, as I did, slowly, over a period of several weeks. This isn't going to be a linear read for most librarians, as it was for me, and instead, I think most readers who have worked as librarians will find that some of the essays will resonate more than others. I found that the essays here about reference librarians at work in the past, in urban reference in the 20th century before my time, in the former Soviet Union, in the Philippines under martial law, evoked an underground service ethic that rings true, to someone whose purpose is to help curate information sources and be forthright with patrons about propagandism. I enjoyed reading about prison librarianship and reference service by mail for incarcerated persons, topics that were notably absent from my MLS curriculum.

[Lee Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Important foundational theory on reference librarianship as an act of social justice in reaction to the white supremacist roots that created the field of libraries. Anecdotal and useful to refer back to for reminders on praxis, critical pedagogy, and a marker for the state of librarianship in the present in its attempts to change as a profession.

[Camille · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent group of essays/article length feature writings from some great librarians and archivists, tackling all manner of social justice issues relating to librarianism and archives. A great read.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think all librarians from all different institutions should read this one. My guess is you'll learn something and feel empowered to be a force of change in your own library.