In a rapidly changing world with myriad conflicting voices, the library's role as a place of safety and inclusion and as a repository of knowledge cannot be overstated. Librarians must serve as community leaders with a mission to educate and inform, ready to model the principles they support. The question for many is: how?

Experienced librarians offer ideas and guidance in seeking new creative paths, working to support change in library organizations and reexamining principles that may be taken for granted. Theoretical foundations are discussed, along with practical ideas such as the creation a book groups for the intellectually disabled and partnership with social workers or advocates for employees with disabilities.

“Should be used as the framework for a new curriculum in information studies...the most important contribution in a generation.”—Eino Sierpe, the Visual Library of Social Justice
“Practical, timely applications of theory to practice in the ongoing struggle for equity and justice.”—Karl Ericson, University of Detroit Mercy
“Authentic, real-life examples like these will move us forward as both keepers and providers of inclusive spaces and knowledge.”—Kristen Chinery, Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University
“The topic of social justice and activism in libraries is both critical and timely, and there’s no more important aspect of this topic than moving beyond diversity to action.”—Aline Soules, Library Faculty, California State University, East Bay
“Social Justice and Activism in Libraries is an essential handbook for those working to remake libraries into community spaces.”—Mira Tanna, Orange County Library System, Orlando, Florida.

Su Epstein is the director at the Saxton B. Little Free Library in Columbia, Connecticut. Her writing has appeared in several publications as well as the blog Public Libraries Online. A Michigan resident, Carol Smallwood has practiced in school, public and special libraries. Her primary interest is practical librarianship, and she is the author of journal articles and editor of numerous books. Vera Gubnitskaia has worked as a library manager, consultant, and reference librarian in public and academic libraries in Russia and the United States. She has contributed chapters to several professional publications, edited multiple anthologies, and published book reviews. She is currently an art fellow at Crealde School in Winter Park, Florida.