This volume shares some of the ways that librarians and library scholars are incorporating Critical Race Theory (CRT) into the field of library and information studies. CRT provides a theoretical and analytical lens through which librarians can challenge the ways race and racism harm shape library access, collections, discourses, and services, with the goal of instigating changes that lead to social justice.
Chapter authors represent different points of views related to CRT from their unique perspective as members of minoritized groups and contributions move beyond generalized language and tackle topics directly related to race in America and how these affect the work in libraries. The way in which libraries and other information professions perpetuate racism are explored, alongside racist practices, as well as ideas on how information professionals can move beyond these systems and create institutions that support their patrons and create environments in which all are welcomed.
Critical Race Theory in LIS fulfills a need for LIS literature to focus on race issues in the profession. The work is related to the larger umbrella of DEI work and will advance Social Justice issues in the profession but from a race perspective.
This volume of Advances in Librarianship moves beyond providing information related to diversity or multiculturalism and will instead focus on racism, white supremacy, and colorblindness and its effects in the work of librarians and the communities they serve through the theoretical and analytical lens of Critical Race Theory.
Introduction to the Volume: Critical Race Theory in Library and
Information Science (LIS); Mónica Colón-Aguirre
Section
1. CRT and Navigating the White Spaces of Academia
Chapter
1. A Brief History of (White) Choices; jaime ding
Chapter
2. I'm Sorry You Had to Experience That: The Unnecessary Emotional
Toll Experienced by BIPOC Women at Community College Libraries; Alejandra S.
Méndez Irizarry
Chapter
3. Planting Seeds of Change to Help Grow the Field of Librarianship
for Native American Students; Tessa R. Campbell
Chapter
4. We Have a Problem! Unearthing and Dismantling Whiteness in
Instructional Design and Librarianship Practices; Marcia Rapchak, Tinukwa
Boulder, Rae Mancilla, and Tasha M. Brown
Chapter
5. Student-Led CritLib Initiatives: The Creation of The Critical
Librarianship Reading Group; LaTesha Velez, Tori Hopper, and Deborah Yun
Caldwell
Section
2. CRT as a Bridge to Practice
Chapter
6. The CRT Toolkit: Preventing Disinformation Through the Creation of
an Open Access Critical Race Theory Toolkit; Cearra N. Harris
Chapter
7. Intellectual Freedom as Political Pawn: Aligning the Historical
Context of Policing Access with Propositions of Critical Race Theory and
InfoCrit Theory; Aisha M. Johnson
Chapter
8. Race-avoidant discourse in school library preparation program
standards; Julia Burns Petrella
Chapter
9. Check Yoself Before You Wreck Yoself: Diversity Residents'
Experiences Expanding CRT and Antiracism Practices in Collection Development;
Mallary Rawls and Amanda M. Leftwich
Chapter
10. Faces at the Bottom of the Archive: Critical Race Theory in
Special Collections Librarianship and Archives, A [ Counter Story] Review;
Kellee E. Warren
Section
3. Combatting Erasure with CRT
Chapter
11. The Black Tax: The Impact of Race, Recognition, and
Representation in Librarianship; Teneka Williams
Chapter
12. Metadata as White Ignorance; Jose C. Guerrero
Chapter
13. Bias in the System: A Case for Catalogers Judgment; Annisija W.
Hunter
Section
4. CRT Beyond Libraries
Chapter
14. A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: Book Banning Practices Disguised as
Parental Rights Advocacy; Shannon Crooks
Chapter
15. A TribalCrit Analysis of Library Legislation in Idaho; Mandi Lyn
Harris
Chapter
16. You Cant Be in That Much Pain: Navigating Implicit Bias in
Womens Healthcare; Andrea M. Hayes
Mónica Colón-Aguirre is Assistant Professor at the School of Information Science at the University of South Carolina. She is an experienced library and information science educator, focusing on information science and LIS education from a social justice perspective.
Nicole A. Cooke is Augusta Baker Chair and Professor at the School of Information Science at the University of South Carolina. Her research interests include human information behavior, fake news consumption and resistance, and diversity and social justice in librarianship.
Aisha M. Johnson is Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Outreach at the Georgia Tech Library, and is a revelator of Southern library history. In 2021, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History recognized her impactful work with the Freedom Scholar Award.
Anastasia M. Collins is Instructional Librarian & Geographer-at-Large at Phillips Academy. She developed the Anti-Oppression Guide at Simmons University Library, and delivers talks and workshops on equity work in library and information science.
