Post on 18-May-2015
description
A Critical Theory of Library A Critical Theory of Library Technology: Libraries & Technology: Libraries & Electronic Publishing Electronic Publishing
Ajit K. Pyati, Ph.D.Ajit K. Pyati, Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorAssistant Professor
Faculty of Information and Media StudiesFaculty of Information and Media Studies
University of Western OntarioUniversity of Western Ontario
July 13, 2007July 13, 2007
PKP Scholarly Publishing Conference 2007PKP Scholarly Publishing Conference 2007
Vancouver, BCVancouver, BC
Today’s PresentationToday’s Presentation
Background: Electronic Publishing in the Background: Electronic Publishing in the “Information Society”“Information Society”
What is “critical theory?”What is “critical theory?” A Critical Theory of Library Technology A Critical Theory of Library Technology A Case Study: Libraries & Electronic A Case Study: Libraries & Electronic
Publishing Publishing Q & AQ & A
Research BackgroundResearch Background
Information society linked to connectivity, Information society linked to connectivity, access to ICTs; World Summit on the access to ICTs; World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)Information Society (WSIS)
Technological determinism; information Technological determinism; information commodificationcommodification
Packaging of certain political/economic Packaging of certain political/economic structures with ICTsstructures with ICTs
Scholarly Publication “Crisis” Scholarly Publication “Crisis”
Needs to be viewed in the context of the Needs to be viewed in the context of the dominant information society visiondominant information society vision
Electronic licensing of journals Electronic licensing of journals prohibitively expensive for many librariesprohibitively expensive for many libraries
Concentration of academic publishers - Concentration of academic publishers - monopoly over scholarly knowledge monopoly over scholarly knowledge productionproduction
Increasing commodification of Increasing commodification of knowledge/informationknowledge/information
Libraries’ Responses to the “Crisis”Libraries’ Responses to the “Crisis”
Cutting subscriptionsCutting subscriptions
Advocacy - ALA, CLA, ACRL, IFLAAdvocacy - ALA, CLA, ACRL, IFLA
Open access movementsOpen access movements
Open Access Initiatives (OA)Open Access Initiatives (OA)
Response to scholarly publication crisis - Response to scholarly publication crisis - Harnad, Suber, Willinsky, etc.Harnad, Suber, Willinsky, etc.
Varying forms of open access - Varying forms of open access - repositories, OA journals, self-archiving, repositories, OA journals, self-archiving, delayed OA, etc. delayed OA, etc.
Libraries in the Face of a Crisis: Need for Libraries in the Face of a Crisis: Need for Critical Theories for Action/ReflectionCritical Theories for Action/Reflection
What are different social theories we can What are different social theories we can draw upon to derive theoretical draw upon to derive theoretical frameworks to understand library-based frameworks to understand library-based OA advocacy?OA advocacy?
Need for critical theory in the field Need for critical theory in the field
Library Ethics and Values Library Ethics and Values
Libraries and values of democratic access to Libraries and values of democratic access to informationinformation
How can we extend these values to the realm of How can we extend these values to the realm of technology in libraries? technology in libraries?
What does democratization mean in the context What does democratization mean in the context of library technology?of library technology?
What is “critical theory?”What is “critical theory?”
Social theory with origins in Germany - Institute Social theory with origins in Germany - Institute for Social Research (founded 1923) - “Frankfurt for Social Research (founded 1923) - “Frankfurt School” of critical theorySchool” of critical theory
Multidisciplinary perspective - combining macro Multidisciplinary perspective - combining macro and micro perspectives, making connectionsand micro perspectives, making connections
Transformative Transformative social theory for action/reflectionsocial theory for action/reflection Deals with emancipatory concerns within the Deals with emancipatory concerns within the
context of oppressive socio-economic, political, context of oppressive socio-economic, political, and ideological conditions and ideological conditions
Critical Theory of TechnologyCritical Theory of Technology
Andrew Feenberg’s critical theory of Andrew Feenberg’s critical theory of technology technology Drawing from Frankfurt School tradition - Drawing from Frankfurt School tradition -
Marcuse & HeideggerMarcuse & Heidegger Critique of technological rationality, Critique of technological rationality,
technological determinismtechnological determinism ““Ambivalence” of technologyAmbivalence” of technology Social character of technology Social character of technology ““Dialectic” of technology Dialectic” of technology
Critical Theory of Technology (2)Critical Theory of Technology (2)
Democratization of technologyDemocratization of technology ““Opening technical development to the Opening technical development to the
influence of a wider range of values is a influence of a wider range of values is a technical project requiring broad democratic technical project requiring broad democratic participation” (Feenberg, 2002, p.35)participation” (Feenberg, 2002, p.35)
Feenberg, A. (2002). Feenberg, A. (2002). Transforming Technology: Transforming Technology: A Critical Theory Revisited. A Critical Theory Revisited. Oxford University Oxford University Press: New YorkPress: New York. .
Questions for ConsiderationQuestions for Consideration
What are the dimensions of aWhat are the dimensions of a critical theory of critical theory of technology that can enhance library public technology that can enhance library public service goals?service goals?
Is the open access movement a route for Is the open access movement a route for libraries to reclaim and shape ICTs for libraries to reclaim and shape ICTs for enhancing public service missions and to enhancing public service missions and to democratize library technology development? democratize library technology development?
Critical Theory and Library Critical Theory and Library Technology?Technology?
How can critical theory of technology be How can critical theory of technology be applied to the library context?applied to the library context?
Building upon critical theory of technology Building upon critical theory of technology and library technology studies, a “critical and library technology studies, a “critical theory of library technology” framework is theory of library technology” framework is formulated formulated
A Critical Theory of Library A Critical Theory of Library Technology Technology
Conceptual tool for understanding and Conceptual tool for understanding and reflection about what democratization reflection about what democratization means in the context of library technologymeans in the context of library technology
Tool for re-envisioning roles of libraries in Tool for re-envisioning roles of libraries in societal discourses about technologysocietal discourses about technology
Analytical tool for exploring library Analytical tool for exploring library technology development technology development
A Critical Theory of Library A Critical Theory of Library Technology - Part I: FoundationsTechnology - Part I: Foundations
Technology as fundamental basis of Technology as fundamental basis of library development library development
Critical theory of technologyCritical theory of technology
Social and community informaticsSocial and community informatics
A Critical Theory of Library A Critical Theory of Library Technology - Part II: AnalysisTechnology - Part II: Analysis
Levels of impact:Levels of impact: Policy & Advocacy - Are library technology Policy & Advocacy - Are library technology
actions actions progressive and democratic?progressive and democratic? Individual & Community - Are library Individual & Community - Are library
technology actions technology actions participatory and participatory and community-oriented?community-oriented?
Systems & Institution - Are library technology Systems & Institution - Are library technology actions actions open and collaborative?open and collaborative?
Critical Theory, OA and LibrariesCritical Theory, OA and Libraries
Libraries as “battlegrounds” for contesting Libraries as “battlegrounds” for contesting increasing commodification of informationincreasing commodification of information
Contesting “stranglehold” of commercial Contesting “stranglehold” of commercial publisherspublishers
Creating openings for more democratic Creating openings for more democratic production and access of scholarly production and access of scholarly knowledgeknowledge
Exposing tensions and contradictions of Exposing tensions and contradictions of techno-capitalismtechno-capitalism
Critical Theory and Library Critical Theory and Library Promotion of OAPromotion of OA
In-depth, “test” cases needed of library-In-depth, “test” cases needed of library-based OA advocacy based OA advocacy Need for exemplars of library open access Need for exemplars of library open access
advocacy to begin applying the framework as advocacy to begin applying the framework as a mode of analysisa mode of analysis
Does OA embody the principles and ethics of Does OA embody the principles and ethics of critical theory? critical theory?
Future Research Future Research
How can we use the critical theory of library technology How can we use the critical theory of library technology framework to study other library technology practices? framework to study other library technology practices?
Open access publishing Open access publishing Digital librariesDigital libraries Community archivingCommunity archiving Community networksCommunity networks Digital referenceDigital reference Content development Content development Etc, etc.Etc, etc.
How can this framework adapt and incorporate other How can this framework adapt and incorporate other relevant social theories and approaches?relevant social theories and approaches?
Thank You!Thank You!
Ajit PyatiAjit Pyati
akpyati@gmail.comakpyati@gmail.com
Research Agenda Research Agenda
International library developmentInternational library development Libraries and information access in the developing Libraries and information access in the developing
world world
Information society & policyInformation society & policy Culturally relevant and social justice-oriented ICT4D Culturally relevant and social justice-oriented ICT4D
projectsprojects
Globalization, migration, & ICTsGlobalization, migration, & ICTs Immigrant and diasporic communities and information Immigrant and diasporic communities and information
behavior; new media technologies; politics and power behavior; new media technologies; politics and power of cultural representationof cultural representation