Critical Literacy for Information Professionals

This edited collection explores critical literacy theory and provides practical guidance to how it can be taught and applied in libraries.

The approach taken in critical literacy is not to read texts in isolation, but to develop an understanding of the cultural, ideological and sociolinguistic contexts in which they are created and read.

The book introduces critical literacy concepts in ways that are accessible to readers who are new to the subject while also appealing to those with greater knowledge by exploring critical literacy from a range of theoretical perspectives and linking these ideas to current debates in information studies.

Critical Literacy for Information Professionals also contains a series of practically-focussed case studies that describe tools or approaches that librarians have used to engage users in critical literacy. Drawing on examples from across library sectors including schools, public libraries, universities, workplaces and healthcare, these illustrate how critical literacy can be applied across a variety of library settings, including online and new media environments.

Contributed to by international experts from across library sectors, the book covers topics including:

radical information literacy as an approach to critical literacy education

critical literacy and mature students

physical and digital disability access in libraries

teaching critical literacy skills in a multicultural, multilingual school community

teaching media literacy

developing critical literacy skills in an online environment

new media and critical literacy.

Readership: The book will be essential reading for librarians, information professionals and managers in all sectors, students of library and information science, school and higher education teachers and researchers