Libraries and Antiracism
Faculty Advisor: Prof. Alison Cook-Sather
Field Site: Swarthmore College Libraries
Field Supervisor: Lorin Jackson
Description of the Course:
In this course, I explored the challenges and opportunities of moving antiracist work forward in the field of library and information science (LIS). Through readings and field site experiences (including making executive summaries of important resources, participating in staff committee meetings, zine making, and social media management), I worked to identify strategies for antiracist work in LIS and conceive of the role I want to carve out for myself as a future school library media specialist.
Praxis Reflection:
Praxis Project:
IDEA Moodle Redesign ProposalPlease click here to access a PDF version of the document.
This project gets at the way structures can have racist qualities. You get at the ways libraries are organized and used and suggest some alternatives. Thought provoking
Maria, I love it that you provided the context of your decision to develop this Praxis course –that is, your change in career direction, away from becoming a teacher and toward becoming a school librarian. I am glad that you were able to switch out your original plan to do student teaching to work instead in a college library.
The question that evolved in this placement, how to motivate library staff to utilize anti-racist resources and to undertake anti-racist work, is relevant to both library and other workplace settings.
Your presentation is beautifully done. You are poised, clear, and engaging. I was motivated to hear what you had to share!