Social justice design and implementation in library and information science

Gaming in libraries has become a popular area of interest in the last several years. The author of this book, Scott Nicholson, is one of the pre-eminent names associated with games and libraries. He is an assistant professor at the School of Information Studies at Syracuse University, Syracuse, head of the Library Game Lab of Syracuse, and one of the founders of the American Library Association’s Games and Gaming Member Initiatives Group. He also contributes to several websites about gaming in libraries, most notably www.boardgameswithscott.com. There is no shortage of recent books on gaming in libraries. The key idea distinguishing the content of Everyone Plays at the Library is games as social experiences. Nicholson emphasizes that ‘‘the focus is not on the game itself but how games can be integrated into a library program and how different types of gaming experiences can meet different library goals’’ (p. 31). Nicholson brings a wealth of personal knowledge and experience to the book, offering a broad range of game recommendations organized by genre and suitability for particular age groups and providing context for how these games meet common library goals. The book states that the content is suitable for all types of libraries, but those individuals working in school and public libraries will probably get the most use out of it. As Nicholson notes, gaming is commonly used in public libraries to reach underserved patrons, provide recreational programs, or act as a community hub, which may or may not be included in the mandates of other types of libraries. However, creative librarians in other settings who want to do something fun for a class or program may also find value in this book since it offers suggestions for all ages. The book is divided into three parts. The first is an introduction to gaming and libraries, including a discussion of how gaming programs fulfill common library mission statement goals. The second part can be best described as a sort of ‘‘reader’s advisory’’ for librarians looking to incorporate games into programs and services. Each chapter in this part covers one of the five ‘‘gaming experience archetypes’’: knowledge, strategy, action, narrative, and social gaming. The third part focuses on the logistical details of providing gaming programs, such as facilitation, marketing, and evaluation. One of the major strengths of this book is its inclusivity; all types of games are reviewed, including word, board, card, and live-action role playing games, as well as ‘‘big games’’ like murder mystery party games. Nicholson does a fine job of debunking the marketing hype of the video game industry. He argues that libraries do not need to buy the newest, most heavily advertised games in order for their program to be a success because quality of game play and enthusiastic staff are much more important factors. The word ‘‘gaming’’ is now often closely associated with digital gaming, so Nicholson’s broader look at games in multiple formats is appreciated, especially when digital gaming has substantially higher costs and technology requirements. Another strength of this book is the quality of the reviews. Other literature has covered the role of gaming in libraries and how to adequately plan gaming programs, but very little material offers library-focused game recommendations with the same depth and breadth. Each game review is categorized broadly by ‘‘gaming experience archetype’’, and is tied to common library goals. The cost of the game, number of players, complexity level, recommended age group, length of time required for play, and skills used (e.g., strategic planning, teamwork) are also included. Overall, this book is recommended for anyone who is looking to incorporate gaming into library or educational programming in some way. It may even be of interest for anyone just looking for a good game to play (especially if one wants to know what skills are being developed through game play). The author’s enthusiasm and experience with games shines through, which makes the book a pleasant and informative read. It also costs considerably less than the newest blockbuster game for Playstation 3 and will likely have a longer shelf-life.


BOOK REVIEW / CRITIQUE DE LIVRE
Mehra B, editor. Social justice design and implementation in library and information science. New York: Routledge; 2021. Softcover: 332p. ISBN 978-0-367-65382-8. Price: USD$48.95. Available from: https://www.routledge.com/Social-Justice-Design-and-Implementation-in-Library-and-Information-Science/Mehra/p/book/9780367653828 Social justice design and implementation in library and information science presents a diversity of cases pertinent to librarianship, information science research, and library and information science (LIS) education. Editor Dr. Bharat Mehra is the EBSCO Endowed Chair in Social Justice and Professor in the School of Library & Information Studies at the University of Alabama. Dr. Mehra earned his PhD in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign after also earning degrees in South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and Landscape Architecture. This background sheds light on the selection of topics in this collection, including a chapter discussing cultural heritage studies as applied to built spaces (chapter 9).
I volunteered to review this book because of my interest in the topic. I hoped the text would help me generate ideas for my workplace's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and Hiring Practices Evaluation Taskforce. As an instruction librarian and liaison to pre-clinical medical school courses, I was interested to see how social justice discussions in health professional education compared to similarly focused conversations in my own professional community. I acknowledge my own bias for cases in settings most relevant to my own workplace.
The case studies in this text vary greatly, not only in terms of topics and settings, but also in their presentation and seemingly intended audiences. Cases are organized into five sections: (I) emerging new responsibilities, (II) reflective case practices, (III) reaching out: new research approaches and strategies, (IV) transforming LIS education, and (V) instruments of action and change. These categories try to cover the broad range of questions relevant to social justice.
Notably, authors take a variety of approaches in presenting their work. Some case studies follow a traditional structure: background, literature review, and statement of purpose. Reflecting a familiar outline, these chapters appealed to me most. Chapter 4, for instance, presents a structured case study of a public library involved in food justice. Though the setting (rural public libraries) and the intervention (food justice) differ greatly from my own work, I was able to relate to themes described by the authors. Not all chapters provide such entrée points.
Other cases are grounded in theory. While interested in the theory of our profession, I found these chapters less practical and relevant to my role as a reference and instruction librarian in an academic medical center. They may be more pertinent to the work of information science researchers and LIS educators.
Finally, some contributors take a narrative approach. This documentation is crucial as these stories are often lost. In the foreword, Paul T. Jaeger, Co-Director of the Information Policy and Access Center (iPAC) and former MLIS program Co-Director at the College of Information Studies, University of Maryland, describes the importance of the current collection in documenting our profession's legacy.
Our professional roles and research interests are broad and their intersections with social justice are many, as demonstrated in the diversity of content within this text. I appreciated learning about the work of librarians and information professionals in this space, but I wanted more tie-ins to larger contexts, descriptions of impact, lessons learned, or most useful for me, practical tips and potential applications to other settings.
Future printings should correct typos and copyediting mistakes. I was often distracted from the content by these errors. Additionally, I found it difficult to switch between chapters, as some used dense, jargon-laden text, whereas others used plain language and storytelling style.
Overall, I found the stories illuminating and inspiring. I was able to relate in some ways, even to librarians working in other contexts. Personally, I am interested in seeing how professional schools adapt and update curricula to meet the ever-changing needs of the workplace, as described by cases in section IV, transforming LIS education. With its expansive view of social justice in library and information science, this text would be a good addition to collections serving library and information science schools or degree programs. Yet, even while I acknowledge the importance of its topic, I would not recommend this book for purchase by a health sciences library.