Information literacy, participatory projects and the development of political roles for librarians

Abstract

This paper reports on information retrieved by a team of librarians of the public library of Lyon as part of their preparation for their involvement in a participatory project. I based the quantitative and qualitative analyses on a theoretical framework built on philosophy and information science concepts. My results shows that taking part in political action seems to be in conflict with some traditional values of libraries like neutrality, democratization, and emancipation through culture rather than through action. Finally my study lets us drawn the portrait of a new generation of librarians who accept their political role.