Ideas for Action: Creating and Collaborating for Inclusive Teaching

Abstract

The process of embedding anti-racist practices into library instruction is vitally important, especially as we and our students navigate ongoing systemic injustices at our institutions, in our communities, and on a national level. But this process can also seem daunting for many reasons. In 2020, a group of twelve librarians at our institution came together to create an Inclusive Teaching Interest Group in order to develop or deepen our praxis of critical pedagogy. These librarians come from a variety of backgrounds and disciplinary focuses, allowing us to learn from each other as we read articles, discuss topics related to critical pedagogy, and develop shared goals and teaching practices. This session will provide an opportunity to begin a discussion on inclusive instructional practices and envision how librarians can feasibly incorporate these practices into their work with three example activities. Having a shared community of practice surrounding inclusive pedagogy safeguards individual librarians from burnout in the face of the sometimes overwhelming task of staying informed, analyzing our own biases, educating our students, and creating inclusive teaching environments