Call for Chapters

The Practical Literacies Cookbook (ACRL) Edited by Haley L. Lott

The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) is accepting “recipe” (chapter) proposals on instructional activities for teaching skills that extend information literacy and connect it to other essential areas of student learning for The Practical Literacies Cookbook, edited by Haley L. Lott.

This volume will feature practice-based lesson plans, activities, and programs that help undergraduates build the durable, adaptable skills needed to thrive in college and beyond. Drawing on the foundations of information literacy, the Practical Literacies Cookbook highlights the critical role libraries play in preparing students for life after college while also supporting media, civic, ﬁnancial, legal, and professional literacies. Organized into four sections, the volume focuses on skills that can be realistically incorporated into time- constrained library instruction and outreach. Proposals are welcome that capture library collaborations with other campus units such as student success centers, academic advising, career services, residence life, etc.

Proposals are due by November 14, 2025.

We are seeking 500–700 word proposals for recipes or chapters on practice-based examples of lesson plans, activities, or programs that extend information literacy into other areas of student learning. Recipes will generally follow the ACRL Cookbook Format. Your proposal can be related to the following four key areas:

Section 1: Critical Engagement with Information and Society

This section features lesson plans and activities that teach students how to evaluate media, detect misinformation, and engage with civic issues. Recipes will highlight how information shapes public discourse and provide strategies for responsible participation in society.

Sample topics include:

Detecting misinformation and viral spread
Understanding polls and surveys
Diversifying one’s media diet
Fact-checking and the SIFT method
Practicing civil discourse
Knowing your rights in civic action
Advocacy strategies and grassroots organizing

Section 2: Building a Strong Financial Foundation

This section features lesson plans and activities that cover essential money management

skills, including budgeting, saving, credit scores, student loans, and ﬁnancial decision- making. Recipes in this section should help students understand banking, ﬁnancial aid, and cost-eYective living strategies. Note: This section provides guidance on ﬁnding and accessing quality ﬁnancial information, but does not oAer ﬁnancial advice.

Sample topics include:

Budgeting basics
Managing credit scores
Subscription traps and hidden costs
Banking basics
Understanding tax forms
Freelancing in the gig economy
Beginner investments
Cryptocurrency basics

Section 3: Understanding Rights, Responsibilities, and Contracts

This section features lesson plans and activities that explore legal literacies, covering essential knowledge of contracts, tenant rights, workplace protections, copyright and fair use, and navigating legal resources. Recipes should provide guidance on ﬁnding credible legal information but not oYer legal advice.

Sample topics include:

Understanding everyday legal documents
Digital privacy rights
Reading the ﬁne print
Finding credible legal information
Copyright and fair use
Tenant rights and responsibilities
ADA accommodations in the workplace

Section 4: Designing Meaningful Careers and Futures

This section features lesson plans and activities that focus on preparing students for employment, covering résumés, interviews, networking, professional communication, workplace expectations, and salary negotiation. Recipes should equip students to conﬁdently transition into professional environments and adapt to evolving career pathways.

Sample topics include:

Planning career growth
Salary negotiation
Résumé preparation
Cover letter writing
Networking skills
Professional communication
Navigating workplace expectations
Managing the transition into a ﬁrst job

Proposals should be between 500-700 words in length and include a chapter title, audience description, learning objectives connected to the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy (if applicable), the length of the activity or activities in minutes (if applicable), a general description of the activity, lesson, event, or curriculum map, and an indication of how the activity will be assessed.

We encourage proposals from ﬁrst-time authors, paraprofessional staY, and contributors from underrepresented or marginalized groups. Have a creative idea that doesn’t seem to ﬁt? Reach out to the editor at PracticalLiteracies@gmail.com to explore where it might belong.

Submit proposals by November 14, 2025, via this form: https://tinyurl.com/PracticalLiteraciesCookbook

Contributors will be notiﬁed of their proposal’s status by December 18th, 2025. The deadline to submit the ﬁrst draft of accepted chapters for revision is February 15th, 2026.