Announcing ALA Neal-Schuman's new Critical Cultural Information Studies series

CHICAGO — The American Library Association is proud to announce Critical Cultural Information Studies, a new book series edited by Dr. Nicole A. Cooke, Augusta Baker Endowed Chair and Associate Professor at The School of Information Science, University of South Carolina. The series will be published under the Association’s ALA Neal-Schuman imprint.

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPoC) and marginalized populations have traditionally had difficulty publishing in the field of library and information science (LIS); as a result, many viewpoints and experiences relevant to the profession haven’t been recognized or shared with the larger community. Among the goals of the Critical Cultural Information Studies series is to provide a safe and brave space for BIPoC and marginalized authors to explore issues of importance to them that will advance the field’s discussions and understanding of often difficult issues such as structural racism, equity, sexuality, disability, oppression, privilege, power, intersectionality, and inclusion and belonging. The books in the series will be designed to illuminate these issues and foster self-reflection for a variety of readers, including LIS students, scholars, practitioners, and library workers at all levels and in all library types.

The Critical Cultural Information Studies series will launch Summer 2023 with a new and expanded edition of Cooke’s “powerful” (College & Research Libraries) and “essential” (School Library Journal) book "Information Services to Diverse Populations: Developing Culturally Competent Library Professionals," which is available for pre-order via the ALA Store.

Potential topics for future books in the series include:

• Social justice and youth engagement
• Labor and power in the information professions
• Trauma-informed library services
• Mental health services in libraries
• Cultural knowledge production and erasure in LIS
• Social justice pedagogy
• Decentering whiteness in LIS

Series inquiries and book proposals can be directed to Rachel Chance, Senior Acquisitions Editor (rchance@ala.org), or for more information, visit https://alaeditions.org/write-with-us/.

About the Editor

Dr. Nicole A. Cooke is the Augusta Baker Endowed Chair and an Associate Professor at The School of Information Science, at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Cooke’s research and teaching interests include human information behavior, fake news consumption and resistance, critical cultural information studies, and diversity and social justice in librarianship. Early, innovative courses created by Dr. Cooke bringing EDISJ issues to the forefront sparked a major shift in curricula across library and information science programs.

Dr. Cooke was named a Mover & Shaker by Library Journal in 2007 and is the recipient of numerous honors including the 2016 ALA Equality Award, the 2017 ALA Achievement in Library Diversity Research Award (Office for Diversity and Literacy Outreach Services), the Illinois Library Association’s 2019 Intellectual Freedom Award in recognition of her work in combating online hate and bullying in LIS, and the 2019 Excellence in Teaching Award (Association for Library and Information Science Education). In 2021 she was presented with the Martin Luther King, Jr., Social Justice Award by the University of South Carolina. Dr. Cooke has published widely and is a frequent speaker. Her other books include "Teaching for Justice: Implementing Social Justice in the LIS Classroom," with Miriam E. Sweeney (Library Juice Press, 2017); "Fake News and Alternative Facts: Information Literacy in a Post-Truth Era" (ALA Editions, 2018); and "Foundations of Social Justice" (ALA Editions, expected in 2023).

Critical Cultural Information Studies Series Advisory Board

Dr. Jeanie Austin, San Francisco Public Library; Dr. Mónica Colón-Aguirre, University of South Carolina; Dr. LaVerne Gray, Syracuse University; Dr. Sandra Hughes-Hassell, University of North Carolina; Dr. Robin Kurz; Gerald Moore, Charleston County Public Library (SC); Dr. Teresa Neely, University of New Mexico; and Kellee E. Warren, University of Illinois at Chicago.

ALA Editions | ALA Neal-Schuman publishes resources used by library and information professionals, scholars, students, and educators to improve programs and services, build on best practices, enhance pedagogy, share research, develop leadership, and promote advocacy. ALA authors and developers are leaders in their fields, and their content is published in a variety of print and electronic formats. Contact ALA Editions | ALA Neal-Schuman at editionsmarketing@ala.org.

Related Links

"Information Services to Diverse Populations: Developing Culturally Competent Library Professionals, Second Edition"

EDI titles from ALA Editions | ALA Neal-Schuman

Textbooks and Course Resources catalog