Exploring and Applying Critical Theory: An Introduction for Librarians

Course Description

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 and critique should be a 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 the field of critical theory as a foundation of critical librarianship. “Theory” in general is often perceived as a barrier to entry for participation in critical conversations and practices, so this course will aim to explore what (critical) theory is and what it does, introduce some fundamentals of critical theory, and discuss how to identify theories and epistemologies that resonate with each practitioner. In the course of exploring the basics of critical 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 how critical theory has been, and could be, actualized in librarianship.

Learning objectives:

This course will help students work toward:

• Identifying foundational critical theory concepts.
• Articulating their own theoretical point of view.
• Meaningfully integrating critical theory into their everyday practice.