Forthcoming, 2025, from ACRL
Overview
Book Description
As undergraduate students enter classrooms in this pandemic-changed, politically charged social climate, teaching information literacy skills has become ever more challenging and vital. Incorporating such critical skills into library instruction, whether one-shot sessions or scaffolded lessons, can be tricky and requires thoughtful planning. Liaison librarians to political science, public affairs, international studies, and related fields face special challenges in adapting traditional information literacy practices to the dynamic topics and unique resources of their disciplines. Gray literature, government data, policy documents, social media, and more must be addressed alongside conventional scholarly publications.
The interdisciplinary nature of politics, policy, and international studies courses offers many opportunities for active and applied learning but also requires additional considerations for locating and evaluating information. This book will aid both novice and advanced liaison librarians alike in their work with political science, public policy, law, government, international relations, global affairs, and similar disciplines at their institutions.
Editors
Rachel Olsen is an Assistant Professor and the Social Sciences Librarian at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she works with the Political Science department, among many other academic departments. She is heavily involved with the North Carolina Library Association and serves as the Social Media Coordinator for ACRL’s Politics, Policy, and International Relations Section (PPIRS).
Kimberly MacVaugh is the School of Foreign Service & Government Liaison and Reference Librarian at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, where she supports the political science and international affairs programs. Kim is the ACRL liaison to the American Political Science Association (APSA) and serves on the executive committee of PPIRS.
Tentative Timeline
- Chapter proposals due September 8th, 2023 (new date)
- Proposals accepted by October 2, 2023
- Chapter drafts due June 3, 2024
- Revisions/Edits June-August 2024
- Manuscript to ACRL September 2024
Table of Contents
1. Part I: “Getting in the Door”: Liaising in Political Science, Public Affairs, and International Studies
a. This section will provide practical foundational tools for librarians seeking to establish relationships with instructional faculty in these disciplines, with particular emphasis on how to successfully draw on partnerships and resources to foster successful long-term information literacy instruction. We seek proposals that focus on how they addressed the unique pedagogical approaches of these fields to develop successful interventions.
b. Possible topics include:
i. Engaging with Faculty
ii. Leveraging Library Resources
iii. Collaborating across Campus (e.g. Data/Digital Scholarship, External Research Offices, Academic Resource Offices, Writing Centers)
2. Part II: “Framing the Framework”: Adapting Information Literacy Concepts and Theories within Political Science, Public Affairs, and International Studies
a. This section will offer theoretical and pedagogical grounding for the disciplinary specific uses of the information literacy framework, building on the outstanding work in the Companion Document to the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education: Politics, Policy and International Relations
b. We are seeking chapters to discuss incorporation of the six frames into these social science fields, specifically tailored to the IL skills common to these disciplines. These can be more conceptual in nature and/or broad in scope. Tested instructional activities may be more appropriate for part three.
3. Part III: “Hit the Ground Running”: Teaching and Assessment Plans
a. This section will consist of chapters offering lesson plans of successful one-shot or scaffolded instruction in the disciplines. Template TBD comprising
Pedagogical/Theoretical Approach, Learning Outcomes, IL Frame(s)
Incorporated, Plan, Activities, Materials, Assessment, and more.
b. Possible topics include (but are not limited to):
i. Quantitative Data
ii. Qualitative Research
iii. Government Documents
iv. Legal Research
v. Policy Evaluation/Grey Literature
vi. Social Media/News
Proposal Submission
Please submit your chapter proposal through this Google Form. The proposal should be no longer than 300 words for a final chapter of approximately 4,000-5,000 words. Please be sure to identify all co-authors and include their contact information.
Proposals will be assessed based on the rubric attached and with consideration to the cohesion of the entire text.
Please submit your proposal by August 25, 2023. Accepted proposals will be notified on a rolling basis, and you will be notified no later than October 2, 2023 of your proposal status.
