Critical Library Instruction: Theories and Methods

by Maria T. Accardi (Editor), Emily Drabinski (Editor), Alana Kumbier (Editor)

Bringing together the voices of a range of practicing librarians, this collection illuminates theories and methods of critical pedagogy and library instruction. Chapters address critical approaches to standards and assessment practices, links between queer, anti-racist and feminist pedagogies and the library classroom, intersections of critical theories of power and knowledge and the library, and the promise and peril of reflective instruction practices. Rooted in theoretical work both from within the profession (James Elmborg, Cushla Kapitzke) and without (Paolo Freire, Henry Giroux, Deborah Britzman), contributions are complemented by stories of critical approaches put into practice in institutional settings ranging from the community college classroom to large urban research universities to virtual worlds. The intention is to begin a conversation among librarians who teach, library instruction program coordinators, faculty and instructors interested in bringing librarians into the classroom, and librarians interested in developing liberatory and anti-oppressive professional practices.

Genres: Nonfiction, Teaching, Library Science, Librarianship, Social Justice, Feminism, Academic

358 pages, Paperback

First published March 10, 2010

Reviews

[Greg Bem · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's taken me too long to get to this book, but in 2025 the majority of the texts feel relevant and resound. I look forward to centering this text as I evolve my librarianship.

[amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally finished this. As a sometime #critlib participant, it's helpful to know the base of theory from which people are more or less working. Finding these chapters to be helpful in thinking about my research & teaching (none of which takes place in library instruction context):


"Posing the Wikipedia 'Problem': Information Literacy and the Praxis of Problem-Posing in Library Instruction" by Heidi LM Jacobs
"Information Literacy Standards and the Politics of Knowledge Production: Using User-Generated Content to Incorporate Critical Pedagogy" by Maura Seale
"Teaching against the Grain: Critical Assessment in the Library Classroom" by Maria T. Accardi
"The Library as 'Stuck Place': Critical Pedagogy in the Corporate University" by Cathy Eisenhower and Dolsy Smith
"Information is Personal: Critical Information Literacy and Personal Epistemology" by Troy A. Swanson

[Holiday · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Elizabeth Peterson's essay "Problem-based learning as teaching strategy." She acknowledges the real practical challenges with implementing critical pedagogy into library instruction. This takes a much more realistic approach into the nuts and bolts of how to apply these theories into practice.

I also liked Sharon Ladenson's "Paradigm Shift: Utilizing Critical Feminist Pedagogy in Library Instruction."

Many of the essays in this book reiterate the point that engaging students in actively learning, having the students speak, discuss, and share actually helps them learn and retain the material taught. Uprooting the power structure by having the instructor act more as a facilitator for student learning than as the lecturing power behind the podium, is implementing critical pedagogy. Many essays refer to Paulo Freire and his seminal work Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Some essays also refer to Henry Giroux, another early theorist of critical pedagogy.

I think every librarian responsible for instruction should read this, as well as Feminist Pedagogy for Library Instruction. I also think professors at schools for Library and Information Science should be required to read these texts.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was kinda dumb to read a book like this cover to cover - if I have to read another explanation of Freire's "banking model of education" again I might scream. HOWEVER, I'm super thankful for each chapter and I found many useful theories and classroom exercises that informed my first semester of teaching.

[Karrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many of these essays have become standard in the library teaching world, but I finally went and bought the entire book...it is such an important work. I would recommend it to any library or information specialist interested in critical thinking, tools and tricks for pulling back the veil, equity and race issues.

Knowledge creators unite!

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice variety of current practices. Some more theoretical than others. Worth looking at.

[Mills College Library]

025.5677 C9347 2010