In keeping with the ECIL 2016 theme, Information Literacy in the Inclusive Society, the Critical Information Literacy Unconference seeks to take a reflexive look at how information literacy practices may inadvertently hinder inclusivity and may be improved through critical approaches. We invite you to consider how  critical information literacy approaches can contribute to, explain and/or reframe the debate on inclusivity in the field of Information Literacy.  

The format of an Unconference allows us to create a space for respectful dialogue and debate about critical perspectives in the field of information literacy. It is an opportunity to establish an open forum which includes and integrates collective perspectives and allows participation and equity in communication.

CIL has mainly been understood as an external conceptual contribution of critical theory and pedagogy to information literacy. Here the term is used to encompass all present and emerging conceptualizations assigning “criticality” to information literacy where information behaviour and practice related issues are debated on the individual, organizational and/or the social level.

Example Critical Information Literacy topics include but are not limited to:

Social justice/equality/equity, political engagement, information ethics, authority, digital inclusion.

Critical theoretical perspectives may include critical/queer/feminist theory, emancipatory pedagogy, postcolonialism and critical race theory.

A selected bibliography of Critical Information Literacy articles

1. Elmborg, J. (2006). Critical information literacy: Implications for instructional practice. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 32(2), 192–199.

2. Saunders, L. (2013). Information as Weapon: Propaganda, Politics, and the Role of the Library. ACRL 2013, April 10–13, 2013, Indianapolis, IN, 309–318.

3. Swanson, T. A. (2004). A radical step: Implementing a critical information literacy model. portal: Libraries and the Academy, 4(2), 259–273.

4. Tewell, E. C. (2015). A decade critical information literacy: a review of the literature. Communications in Information Literacy, 9(1), 24–43.

5. Whitworth, A. (2012). The reflective information literacy educator. Nordic Journal of Information Literacy in Higher Education, 4(1), 38–55.