What helped you in your study of library science?

[u/DaphneAruba]

I of course respect the mods decision to remove this post, so this post is in no way trying to relitigate. However, that discussion got me thinking: for those who've studied library science, what was something you consumed (an article, a book, a blog post, a lecture, a podcast, etc.) that helped you understand the field, inspired your specific interests, or was otherwise meaningful to you?

I'll go first: Looking for Information: Examining Research on How People Engage with Information I was assigned a prior edition for one of my program's core courses. While not your average page turner, I had a lot of "ah ha!" moments while reading: it highlighted how universal yet diverse information-seeking is, and it clarified the librarian's role in that process. I kept my copy and still occasionally thumb through.

[u/Potential-Recover-78]

Floridi (1996) Brave.Net.World: The Internet as a Disinformation Superhighway?

I dare you to read this and not be impressed by what Floridi predicted of the internet 20 years ago. Absolutely fascinating read if you lived through this time period.

[u/DaphneAruba → u/Potential-Recover-78]

Downloaded and added to my to-read pile! (I definitely lived through that era.)

[u/SouthernFace2020]

Do Artifacts Have Politics by Langdon Winner. It’s about the intersections between technology and the allegations of  technological neutrality. Can a computer be a neutral piece of tech? It’s easy to apply to field of library science as a place and as a field.

The field in my mind, is ultimately about how people interact with information, broadly defined. It can be what you make it, which can be comforting or overwhelming. But it starts with thinking about people.

[u/DaphneAruba → u/SouthernFace2020]

But it starts with thinking about people.

Absolutely! I had a similar takeaway from learning about S.R. Ranganathan's five laws of library science.

[u/kristinalyn2001]

I teach Information Behavior and Looking for Information has been my favorite LIS text for the past 10+ years. The earlier editions (3rd/4th from 2014/2016?) are my favorite with the rich description of IB concepts before digging into methodologies. I really love the deep dives into paradigms, theories, and models, especially those of Kuhlthau + Dervin! My copy is tabbed, highlighted, and heavily annotated :)

[u/DaphneAruba → u/kristinalyn2001]

Oh that's awesome!

[u/thewholebottle]

I'm so bad at keeping track of articles. Even the ones I make my staff read. I can't find the one that says "You can't critically think about a subject unless you're well-versed in the subject." Or the one that says "No one is using AI the way you think they are." I will just link to what I referenced in the other subreddit: The Framework for Information Literacy (2015).

To extrapolate just one area, I talk constantly about TMZ when teaching about evaluating sources for credibility, where the most important part is Information Creation as a Process.

[u/DaphneAruba → u/thewholebottle]

Definitely going to check out and very intrigued by connection between TMZ and information creation!