Short description:

Information Literacy Through Theory introduces and critically examines theory development and use within information literacy research to interrogate and reflect on the applicability of theories within this area of research.

Long description:

Information literacy research is growing in importance, as evidenced by the steady increase in dissertations and research papers in this area. However, significant theoretical gaps remain.

Information Literacy Through Theory provides an approachable introduction to theory development and use within information literacy research. It provides a space for key theorists in the field to discuss, interrogate and reflect on the applicability of theory within information literacy research, as well as the implications for this work within a variety of contexts. Each chapter considers a particular theory as its focal point, from information literacy and the social to information literacy through an equity mindset, and unpacks what assumptions the theory makes about key concepts and the ways in which the theory enables or constrains our understanding of information literacy.

This book will provide a focal point for researchers, practitioners and students interested in the creation and advancement of conceptually rich information literacy research and practice.

This book collects, in 13 chapters, perspectives on information literacy as an activity within democratic, educational, social, individual and body based theory. The introductory chapter very helpfully introduces the range of theories external to library and information science used in information literacy research ? cognition, criticality, discourse, materiality, practice, sociocultural, sociopolitical and sociotechnical. Each chapter provides insights that can be considered to tailor and rethink established information literacy programs to more effectively empower our clients.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction: Themes, Patterns and Connections Alison Hicks, Annemaree Lloyd, Ola Pilerot

2. Democracy and Information Literacy John Buschman

3. Information Literacy and the Social: Applying a Practice Theory View to Information Literacy Annemaree Lloyd

4. Information Literacy in a Nexus of Practice: a Mediated Discourse Perspective Noora Hirvonen

5. The Radical and the Radioactive: Grasping the Roots of Theoretically Informed Praxis in Brazilian Studies on Critical Information Literacy Arthur Bezerra and Marco Schneider

6. Locating Information Literacy Within Discursive Encounters: A Conversation with Positioning Theory Alison Hicks

7. Plural Agonistics Johanna Rivano Eckerdal

8. Critical Literacy and Critical Design Veronica Johansson

9. Information literacy through an equity mindset Amanda Folk

10. Sociomateriality Jutta Haider and Olof Sundin

11. Surfacing the body: Embodiment, Site and Source Annemaree Lloyd

12. Variation Theory : Researching Information Literacy Through the Lens of Learning Clarence Maybee

13. Information Literacy: What Consciousness and Cognition Can Teach Us John Budd

14. Information Literacy Theorised Through Institutional Ethnography Ola Pilerot

15. Conclusion: Alerting us to Difference. Alison Hicks, Annemaree Lloyd, Ola Pilerot