The conference is deliberately titled 'Critical Approaches to Libraries' to express that it encompasses all library workers, their users and interested parties and all elements of library work and research. Whilst we hope that the conference includes presentations from those identifying as librarians and those who practice critical pedagogy, we don't wish to exclude anyone by using those specific terms.
Strict definitions of what constitutes critical theory and practice in libraries can be problematic as they inevitably mean different things to different people; what is challenging hegemony for one person is standard practice to another. Our aim in this conference is to provide a space to share a range of ideas and practice in all areas of critical library practice, including (but not limited to) decolonisation, critical information theory and critical pedagogy, equality, diversity and inclusion library work and services and representation of marginalised groups in society, academia and collections. Similarly we are interested in sharing experiences and practice from all areas of library work (collections, liaison, teaching and learning etc.) and sectors (HE, FE, health, public, school and special libraries and special collections). If you work in or with the library sector and are interested in challenging the dominant "historical, cultural, social, economic, political and other forces that affect information" (Gregory and Higgins, 2013) then we would love you to attend and present at our conference.
References:
Gregory, L. and Higgins, S. (2013) Information literacy and social justice: radical professional praxis. Sacramento, CA: Library Juice Press.