Heresy in the Library

Planting a Paradigm

Abstract

Given the precarious state of our planet, democracy, human rights, higher education, and academic libraries, bold thinking and new paradigms are required. This zine, a manifesto of sorts, is meant to be a provocation challenging accepted practice in academic libraries. What should and could be at the heart of our work in the 21st century? As librarians, what do we continue to do that no longer serves our communities or us even knowing it’s so? Sometimes heresy is the only way forward. The heresies? Shift the paradigm: Redesign academic libraries around open knowledge as the lifeblood of our work. To accomplish this, end library instruction as it’s currently practiced, reallocating resources to open knowledge. This zine offers brief arguments and evidence for these heresies.

Libraries have survived and thrived through many paradigmatic shifts. We are overdue for another. Rather than engaging in the analysis paralysis of examining possible scenarios ahead for libraries, let’s co-create the future we believe in, imagine the open knowledge world we need and want, and make that road by walking. Some libraries and librarians are ahead of us on this open road. This zine, providing a sketch road map, is an invitation to join the journey, planting a paradigm as we go.