The 2022 Critical Librarianship and Pedagogical Symposium (CLAPS) took place November 2 – 4. Facilitated by the University of Arizona Libraries, this biennial conference offers participants the opportunity to understand critical pedagogy concepts and determine ways to incorporate those into instructional design practice. Conference founders were awarded the ACRL Instruction Section Special Certificates of Recognition and Appreciation in 2019 as organizers build conference schedules acknowledging the need to empower and prepare participants to embrace and examine the fundamental power structures and historical context of information accessibility and sharing.

This year’s line up was packed with over 30 sessions supporting accessibility and equity in academic libraries when considering multiple levels of service – and it was virtual AND FREE! It was difficult at times to choose which session to participate in live when so many other great topics were being discussed simultaneously, but all recordings and presentations are now available via the 2022 symposium open access repository

One of my favorite sessions was Citations as justice: A critical approach to plagiarism education. Here presenters provided a new perspective on and an alternative approach to citation management discussions and instruction techniques. Modeling interdependence for student researchers uncovered a valuable lesson in reconsidering the over-valuing of independence in scholarship and research. Also, Unpacking whiteness and white supremacy in assignment design and source evaluation provided insight on addressing and exercising a conscious flexibility relative to source requirements and expectations in research assignments.

The lightning talk session also provided evidence of great work in the realms of both fat liberation and heteronormativity in instruction, reflective assessment – including that through portraiture in the social sciences, and the development of a first year experience program combining art exhibitions with special collections materials.

More information on these and many other discussions can be found on the CLAPS site. This conference will be on my 2024 watch list as it is so accessible and encompasses pedological concepts and ideologies important to both my role and ZSR as an institution.