#critlib chat: Working from within the system to create change
Storify of the #critlib chat from 8/11/2015 on creating change from within the system, moderated by @fiiidget. For more information about #critlib, including past & future chats, see http://tinyurl.com/critlibx
- [Borrowing from @oksveta's disclaimer: I attempted to include all of the relevant tweets from the chat and put them together. Retweets, favorites, & tweets without the hashtag are omitted on purpose. Misreadings and all other mistakes are all my own.]
Readings
- What’s Next: The Radical, Unrealized Potential of Digital Humanities - Miram Posner
While this talk addresses DH specifically, it frames well the struggle between some of the inherent biases of the systems that we work with and within, and the potential and urgency of learning how to subvert and transform those systems into something that is more equitable across the board. - Now hiring smiling faces (and who cares about your insides) - Maria Accardi - Academic Librarian Instruction Burnout
And on the flipside, this blog post (and the entire excellent blog!) addresses well the difficulty of trying to do good work in places that don't always support you. Introductions
- Ok, hi #critlib! I'm Sarah, & I'll be mod'ing tonight. Take a few minutes for intros & to look over the readings: http://bit.ly/1Mn3tTp
- As I said, I'm Sarah. LIS student at @PrattSILS, currently at my parent's house in rural NC #critlib
- @AprilHathcock I'm in Jersey City right now, but I suppose that's close enough for NYC domination? haha #critlib
Questions
- Q1: By working in places such as academia, govt or public libraries, do we implicitly endorse their oppressive systems and histories?
- To kick it off, I'd say... yes... and no? Yes, but that doesn't have to be the end of the story. #critlib https://twitter.com/fiiidget/status/631270374160764928 …
- @EamonTewell being able to "speak the language" as it were makes what we have to say resonate #critlib
- @lalaleefull Couldn't looking at big pic be part of service to students? In some cases, even necessary? #critlib
- @GinaMurrell1 Is it possible to be "in" but not "part of" ... and how do you draw that distinction #critlib
- @activitystory building on that, I'd say align self with other groups/depts struggles against oppression/marginalization. #critlib
- @activitystory I agree. outreach and connecting with activist groups is a great way to work against/within #critlib
- @activitystory feeling like an "employee" can diminish feeling like a "human" which can mean making radical connections is harder #critlib
- @rawdeal85 oh, it is! And they certainly don't want you to forget it, either. #critlib
- Q2: How do you separate yourself from policies and structures that you disagree with? How do you indicate that to others?
- @edrabinski yes, I'm still figuring that out at my new instit. Have expressed skepticism but this is a sensitive area. #critlib
- @edrabinski I was told that an assessment survey was based on positive psychology and I maybe over-reacted! #critlib
- @edrabinski Do those things look different from the outside? If not, is there a difference? #critlib
- @edrabinski does it depend on whose strategies/whose plan? #critlib
- @edrabinski I'm learning more about your position on this issue tonight! this is great (the learning/sharing), thx for sharing #critlib
- @DinahHandel Naming is SO important. Language makes things what they are. Changing a name, naming an unnamed thing can be radical #critlib
- #critlib A2 that means assigning things like @marc_bousquet's How the University Works, no matter what class you are teaching!
- question of the decade for me #critlib https://twitter.com/EamonTewell/status/631273961674960896 …
- @EamonTewell Right- I get caught up in the "fix it from inside" narrative, but at some point I think I'll just get lost in it. #critlib
- @EamonTewell I tend to ignore, but I suspect that ppl don't 'get' the point of my ignoring #critlib
- @DinahHandel IME students are much more prepared to question the DBs than the librarians are. Our job = stay out of the way. #critlib
- @kevinseeber sure, but we should definitely listen to what they say and consider how it could impact our work! #critlib
- @DinahHandel Right! Seems strange that listening to students could be considered disruptive, but it somehow is? #critlib
- @lalaleefull yeah - I think it's true even when we are faculty #critlib
- Not so much was it good or bad, but what did it produce/make possible/foreclose. #critlib https://twitter.com/stupidplover/status/631272813253496832 …
- @stupidplover this is what chat 40 may touch on regarding tenure/non and social justice ;) #critlib
- will tenure change that? @stupidplover (next #critlib chat topic!)
- @fiiidget @stupidplover @GinaMurrell1 this will be chat 40! tenure/security and social justice. :) perfect pairing! #critlib
- @nicholsonkp sometimes hard to know or tell! but the question of respecting oneself is really important #critlib
- Q3: How do you balance desire for personal enrichment (and a paying job) with the harmful structures of the institutions we engage with?
- Going off of some of this discussion... #critlib https://twitter.com/fiiidget/status/631275631313989632 …
- @edrabinski actually, I began admin work b/c thought I could "make a difference" not b/c of $. reality check came hard & early tho #critlib
- @GinaMurrell1 Shout this from the Rooftopssss! #critlib
- @PoorCharlotte ah - yes I definitely teach friends and family about ways to find health answers #critlib despite confusing health system
- Agreed. If it was as simple as me making a choice, we'd be fine by now! #critlib https://twitter.com/stupidplover/status/631278431553122305 …
- @stupidplover oh, I read a great article about this recently......... will have to find link again. #critlib
- @DinahHandel I love that we can use personal fulfillment in service of others through our library work. #critlib
- Q4: In what ways can we stop the cycle of wanting to create change and then falling away as the pressures of the system get us down?
- I think specifically of the #critlib panel at ALA annual this year https://twitter.com/fiiidget/status/631279703517564928 …
- Think Jenna's onto something here, it's okay to move into/out of/into work. #critlib https://twitter.com/barnlib/status/631280211556966400 …
- @edrabinski but if elders aren't communicating with the newcomers, then a gap can develop, which can be schismatic. #critlib
- A4 was totes lurkin/favin/RTing only but can't help throwin an A out to Q4:create smthg outta your burnout! … https://libraryinstructionburnout.wordpress.com/2015/07/29/zinemaking-my-burnout-guest-post-by-donna-witek/ … #critlib
- @ginaschless agree. been wondering tho if you become labelled as "problem" & then lose whatever influence you have #critlib
- @ginaschless not so much killjoy but being "the radical" can mean being ostracized. so working w/in system becomes "strategic" #critlib
- A4 More broadly, practice self care in whatever form that takes for you. #critlib #essential
- @edrabinski #critlib I hate scanning documents and articles.
- @eiratansey @carolynthelib letting others know it's okay to step back and recharge for a bit! #critlib
- I love it! Multigenerational #critlib!!!!! https://twitter.com/PoorCharlotte/status/631281967783395328 …
- @lalaleefull @donnarosemary She started tweeting, too! @BookmamaGail I gotta get her to join #critlib some time
- THIS. We need to model this for each other w/in our orgs. #critlib https://twitter.com/eiratansey/status/631282688473763840 …
- .@carolynthelib yes! good point. Also on search committees — make it a point to speak out and push for the right decision. #critlib
- Pitch: Know of any resources, lists, blogs, zines, communities that deal with these questions? Want to start one?
- Pitch: read this chapter. Important q's about possibility of #critlib in environment of corporatized higher ed. http://www.academia.edu/10100304/_The_Library_as_a_Stuck_Place_Critical_Pedagogy_in_the_Corporate_University …
- this is one of my fave pieces on #neoliberal U and #librarianship #critlib #pse #highered https://twitter.com/EamonTewell/status/631283428827234305 …
- chat 40 will be about the tenure/job security side of all this, moderated by yours truly and @AprilHathcock :) #critlib
- #critlib pitch-beginning in Nov we'll alternate Mon evening & Tues afternoon chats (US times). Suggest a topic: https://docs.google.com/a/barnard.edu/forms/d/1oRWThjWAkF_F_c2weAznwXK_1taWislxGsSKOErbE90/viewform …
- Whoa, did @RoxanneShirazi just drop a post TODAY that is totally relevant to tonight’s #critlib? I believe she did: http://roxanneshirazi.com/2015/08/11/work-for-hire-library-publishing-scholarly-communication-and-academic-freedom/ …
- @activitystory and I didn't even realize it was this week's topic! #critlib
- My colleague @JeffGinMEM wrote about this very issue today in @WHPCollective - http://www.wholehorseproject.org/?p=311 worth a read #critlib
- @JessicaCritten hi! what is the Undercommons? sounds intriguing #critlib
- #critlib here it is: (sharing the .pdf w/ the understanding that it is in the disruptive spirit of the book) http://www.tenstakonsthall.se/uploads/141-The_Undercommons_Harney_Moten.pdf …
- @JessicaCritten I love an unruly classroom. I never thought I would, but I do. #critlib
- Thanks to the mod!
- have a lovely night, y'all. it's nearly time for Dodger baseball #critbaseball #critlib