The Three Pillars of Critical Information Literacy

Critical Information Literacy (CIL) is a pedagogical approach that addresses the systemic issues that exist within institutions of information. Ranging from Google and social media platforms, to scholarly publishing and academic databases, the oppressive biases and practices that continue to perpetuate the spread of misinformation, disinformation, discrimination, and hateful rhetoric is alive and well. Information Literacy librarian, Don Simmons Jr., will present the primary components to CIL, discuss why CIL is relevant for both students and faculty, and propose a campus wide initiative to integrate CIL into the classroom.

Presenter:

Don Simmons Jr. holds a master’s degree in Library and Information Science and a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Rhetorical Studies from Syracuse University; and as a student athlete, Don played Division-1 football for the college from 2011-2016. Shortly after graduating with his LIS, he began working at the White Plains Public Library as a Youth Services and Community Engagement Librarian -- hosting programs for children, teens, and adults. Currently, Don is the Information Literacy Coordinator and Student Engagement librarian at SUNY Westchester Community College. He primarily manages the library’s information literacy program and develops outreach activities for students. Over the years, Don has presented a three-part workshop series to SUNY Librarians, discussing Critical Information Literacy (CIL) and the influence of misinformation/disinformation on social media. He was also a lead presenter at the SUNYLA 2021 conference, covering CIL pedagogical methodologies and strategies for cultivating an inclusive learning environment. And in Fall 2021, he was a contributing panelist at the New Librarianship Symposia Series: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, hosted by the Library of Congress. 

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Code of Conduct

For questions, please email Eliscia Cirrone, ecirrone@lilrc.org.

Professional Development Hours: 1 (.1 CEUs)

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