IRDL Speaker Series

The IRDL Scholars Speaker Series is designed to shine a spotlight on voices and ideas that challenge traditional ways of conducting research. It surveys various topics, including specific research methods and critiques of processes associated with western social science approaches, with the intention of inspiring research explicitly rooted in social justice. As librarians, educators, and researchers, we welcome this opportunity to reflect and incorporate what we learn from these speakers into our own research efforts, so that our methodologies integrate anti-racist and anti-colonial practices.

The series is coordinated by a working group of IRDL Scholars. Each speaker session is free to attend via Zoom; anyone interested is welcome. Please see below for the speakers and the dates of their presentations, to register. The hashtag for the events will be #IRDLSpeakers.

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services RE-250170-OLS-21.

Link to the 2021 IRDL Scholars’ Speaker Series

Link to the 2022 IRDL Scholars' Speaker Series

An Identity Crisis? Assessing Queer Categories and Changing Populations

January 20, 2023 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. PST

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This session is moderated by Shanti Freundlich and Catherine Meals.

Black Storytelling from Margin to Center: Dreaming Through Endarkened Storywork

February 2, 2023 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. PST

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This session is moderated by Michael Flierl and Mollie Peuler.

The Power of Public Scholarship: Using Social Media to Educate and Advocate for Social Justice

February 16, 2023 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. PST

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This session is moderated by Denice Lewis and Heather VanDyne.

Weaving as Research: Indigenous Qualitative Methodologies

February 24, 2023 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PST

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This session is moderated by Catherine Baird and Mollie Peuler.