Information, Society and Justice (ISJ) DASS Winter Exhibition 28 November 2007 Shiraz Durrani

Information, Society and Justice (ISJ)

DASS Winter Exhibition28 November 2007Shiraz Durrani

DASS Winter Exhibition (28 Nov 2007) 2

ISJ Strands Quality Leaders Project – Youth DASS Debates & Lectures Information, Society & Justice

journal & website ISM: Social information modules Progressive African Library &

Information Activists’ Group

Quality Leaders Project (Youth)

“Management development through service development”

Sponsored by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation


QLP-Y addresses library and youth agenda Reverse decline, increase reach Develop new, innovative service Develop staff skills for new service Empower current & new users Reading, informal learning & ICT Mainstream equality requirements Innovation in library-youth services


Staff Development Project management skills Consulting the youth community Service design & implementation Combating racism/managing equality Diploma in work-based learning Module: “Innovation & Development

in Information Services” (CMP073N)


Service Development Create conditions for change Innovation and risk taking Establish needs through consultation Meet new & unmet needs Reach out to those excluded Plan and deliver new services Mainstream & sustain new services


QLP-Y: Two phasesPhase 1 (Jan. – July, 2004) Develop project management skills Present service development proposal Equality, youth, library policy awareness Develop local partnershipsPhase 2 (October 2005 – July 2008) Implement new proposal Promote organisational & cultural change


Participants & some projects Barnet: Youth film; Play Station;

Liberation music festival Haringey: Carnival; digital photo,

creative writing and art workshops (Liberation project), designing web page. Lincolnshire: Comic Strip designs; youth bus

Portsmouth: Art project; web publishing; Manga & martial arts


Independent evaluation of QLP-Y Interim report (2007) (1)

QLP-Y seen by participants as responding to the needs and wants of young people, particularly those who have not traditionally been library users, and ensuring that they are much more involved in delivery and design of services


QLP-Y Evaluation report (2007) 2

Staff noted personal development through project activities

The project has raised the profile of work with young people in libraries

Involves young people who were non- users in activities and drawn them into the library


QLP-Y Evaluation report (2007) 3

Interest in continuing use of libraries Young people developed personally Some impact on service provision The challenge: mainstream activities;

change culture in the longer term so that young people involved as matter of course in developing services


Research & publicationswww.seapn.org.uk/qlp/

QLP feasibility & pilot reports Reports to Paul Hamlyn Foundation QLP News Youth Ideas & Action Youth Policy Review Interim Evaluation Report (Feb. 2007) Durrani et al (2007): Filling the youth

shaped hole. Public Library J. 22(2)7-10




DASS Debates & Lectures (DASS D&Ls) Aim to highlight contribution of

leaders, movements and ideas that shape the world

Create a place to think, to debate and develop ideas to help teaching and learning

Discuss and develop alternative ideas shaping a new world where people are at peace with people


Emerging spacesTar, Usamn A. and Durrani, Shiraz

(2007): Emerging spaces for debating Africa and the Global South. Review of African Political Economy. No.113, pp. 497-505.





Information, Society & Justice journal Biennial, peer-reviewed, DASS-based

Journal with Editorial Board from UK & overseas. Space for critical discussion

Progressive, interdisciplinary journal, aims to bridge the gap between intellectualism, policy and activism

A social & political agenda; not neutral

www.londonmet.ac.uk/depts/dass/research/informationsocietyandjustice/informationsocietyandjusticejournal.cfm



Information Services Management: Social aspects Modules

Society, Information & Policy Information for Development Information & Social Exclusion Innovation and Development in

Information Services

Details on WebLearn



Progressive African Library & Information Activists’ Group

Durrani, Shiraz (2006): Progressive librarianship in Africa, the PALIAct story. Focus on International Library and Information Work. Vol. 37 (1) pp.4-8.


The African Progressive Librarian and Information Activists’ Group (PALIAct)

Break colonial and imperialist policies and practices to meet information needs of working people

Anti-imperialist, Pan African Make information profession relevant

to needs of librarians, information professionals and workers

Develop people-orientated services



Documents on display QLP Feasibility Study QLP Pilot stage report QLP News 4 & 5 Youth Ideas & Action Youth Policy Update QLP Evaluation

Report QLP Reports to PHF

DASS Debates & Lectures

Social Module Booklets

Information, Society & Justice journal

Information Equality, Africa


More information?Shiraz DurraniRoom: LH3-35Tel: +44 (0)20 7133 5241 E-mail: [email protected]

www.londonmet.ac.uk/depts/dass/research/informationsocietyandjustice/