"They Don't Necessarily Play Nice with Power Structure": Experiences in a Critical Librarianship Reading Group

Abstract

This article provides insight into the motivations, experiences, and lessons from a critical librarianship reading group through interviews with twelve participants. Critical librarianship has gained traction as an important movement in the LIS field as it grapples with the library's role in systemic oppression. Providing spaces for conversation and critique around critical librarianship is critical to move toward praxis. The critical librarianship reading group discussed in this article grew out of a critical librarianship course, and now includes faculty, students, and alums. The themes generated from analysis of the interviews shows the importance of having such a space like a reading group to encourage deeper thinking and action for justice in workplaces, educational institutions, and communities.