[Commlist] CFP: The Struggle for Information Access: Global Perspectives

Call for Chapters: The Struggle for Information Access: Global Perspectives

Co-editors: Kodjo Atiso, (katiso /at/ ku.edu) <mailto:(katiso /at/ ku.edu)>; Jenna 
Kammer, (jkammer /at/ ucmo.edu) <mailto:(jkammer /at/ ucmo.edu)>

Overview:


Centering on global issues related to information access, The Struggle 
for Information Access: Global Perspectives willconnect timely topics, 
such as artificial intelligence, tariffs, immigration, or censorship, to 
the practical work of libraries worldwide.


Across the world, librarians are working to reduce barriers to 
information needed by the people in their communities. Unfortunately, 
cultural, social, and political forces shape access to information. Ito 
(2021) explained that there are many ways in which the free flow of 
information can be restricted, and that government restrictions on 
opinion or discourse are just one of these ways. The Struggle for 
Information Access: Global Perspectivesis structured around six core 
themes that address global information access issues that pose 
challenges (or struggles) for libraries. We invite authors from around 
the world to unpack problems and solutions to information access and its 
various forms.


Contributions are sought around the following themes:

 1.

    Digital inequality (such as poor infrastructure in libraries, or
    library communities, digital literacy, digital accessibility)

 2.

    Commodification of knowledge (such as the issue of the Open Access
    Movement, paywalls, predatory journals, copyright, the high cost of
    academic information)

 3.

    Global trade and protectionism (such as tariffs, working with
    international vendors, customs slow down, interruption in shipping
    routes, access to vendors, higher costs of library materials)

 4.

    Government censorship and information control (such as book bans,
    social media monitoring, censorship by exclusion, defunding
    libraries, legislation that impacts librarianship)

 5.

    The globalization and liberalization of education (such as
    international or cross-border OER practices, the rise of digital
    platforms and distance learning, educational resource disparities,
    challenges to intellectual freedom and equity in the academy, the
    high cost of higher education)

 6.

    Technological control and innovation (such as the growth of data
    aggregators, data policy, algorithmic bias, the impact of artificial
    intelligence (AI) on library work and library access to collections,
    expanded access, virtual services, improved user experience)


Practical application of these issues in libraries is a key focus of 
this edited book, which seeks to bridge the gap between theory and 
practice. For example,libraries often address these problems by teaching 
critical digital literacy, championing open access, providing free 
public access to the internet and computers, sharing work in open 
repositories, protecting patron privacy, defending intellectual freedom, 
and providing safe public spaces.


With an international scope, The Struggle for Information Access: Global 
Perspectivesis a book for librarians, information professionals, 
policymakers, scholars, and students in the information professions, and 
other stakeholders who believe that access to information is a human 
right. The editors hope that this published volume will also bring 
awareness of these issues to a wider audience.


This book will be published by Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited(Green OA 
policy 
<https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/discover/bloomsbury-academic/open-access/self-archiving-policy/>). 
At this time, we are seeking 400-500-word abstracts from interested 
contributors. Selected chapters are 4,000-5,000 words and include the 
following format:


  *

    Cultural or regional context (who is affected)

  *

    Impact on information access

  *

    Case study/authentic example

  *

    Examples of solutions/responses to the problem

  *

    Ongoing tensions/limitations

  *

    Call to action (practical strategies or suggestions)

Submission Guidelines:

  *

    Abstracts: Interested contributors should submit an abstract of
    400-500 words, along with a chapter title and 3-5 keywords. Also
    include a bio of ~100 words.

  *

    Submission Process:Submit your abstract as a Word document to Jenna
    Kammer, (jkammer /at/ ucmo.edu) <mailto:(jkammer /at/ ucmo.edu)>,by Monday,
    December 1, 2025. Authors of selected abstracts will be notified by
    Monday, December 15, 2025.


Timeline:

  *

    Abstract Submission Deadline: December 1, 2025

  *

    Notification of Acceptance: December 15, 2025

  *

    Chapter Submission to Editors: May 1, 2026

  *

    Revised and final chapters to Editors: July 31, 2026

  *

    Final book due to publisher: September 1, 2026

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