Module 5: Information Communities & Diverse Information Needs

Module 5: Information Communities & Diverse Information Needs

In module five, we transition from last week’s focus on information-seeking behavior to consider the diverse information needs of our information communities. This lecture emphasizes the importance of diversity, which encompasses intercultural communication competence, cultural competency, and cultural humility. Dr. Aguiñaga’s lecture begins with a general overview of our “information needs” and how they continue to evolve in the 21st century. Readings associated with this module include contributions from Naumer & Fisher, Savolanien, Spink & Cole, Cooke, and Bright. These scholars provide a holistic humanistic perspective on how information communities and diverse information must be considered by present and future information professionals/librarians. The underlying theme that connects each reading for this module is the importance of understanding ourselves as individuals and contributors to the information cycle, making us feel valued and integral to the process. Another critical element to gaining a better understanding is how information organizations and information professionals enhance their daily practice of cultural humility (Bright, 2022). Cultural humility originates from the medical field and can be defined as a lifelong commitment to self-evaluation and critique to reassess the power imbalances and create a mutually beneficial partnership with our library communities (Tervalon & Murray, 1998; Hodge, 2019). Besides cultural humility, we must also let our diverse communities share their stories per Solorzano and Yosso’s (2001) counter-storytelling methodology—reflection and improvement as information professionals promote how we meet the information needs of our diverse communities.

Module 5 Lecture:

Things to Read: 

Click here for Module Fives’s readings.

Things to View:

Click here for Module Five’s media resources.

Things to Explore:

Click here to explore extra resources for Module Five.