Humor and Information Literacy: Practical Techniques for Library Instruction

Learn how to successfully employ practical techniques that infuse information literacy instruction with humor.

How can humor be applied by academic librarians to better teach information literacy? And why is humor such an effective teaching tool? This book provides a cross-disciplinary review of the literature regarding use of humor in tertiary education settings, and specifically in library science; explains its effectiveness for capturing and maintaining student attention when covering necessary subjects; and presents the invaluable personal experiences of instruction librarians across North America who regularly use humor in the classroom.

Humor and Information Literacy: Practical Techniques for Library Instruction addresses the subject in both a scholarly and a practical manner. The first section of the book contains original multi-disciplinary essays covering humor in the fields of communication theory, education, library science, psychology, and even stand-up comedy. The second section documents practical techniques that practicing librarians use to teach information literacy with humor, accompanied by commentary by the authors.

Joshua Vossler is information literacy and reference librarian at Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC.

Scott Sheidlower is assistant professor in the library at The City University of New York, York College.