Centering DEI in Cartographic and Primary Source Literacy Instruction

Abstract

Providing primary source information literacy instruction is one of the main goals at the American Geographical Society Library (AGSL) on the campus of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), where we host visits from classes in a broad range of disciplines each semester. The AGSL’s collections have a long history that is the product of colonialism, patriarchy, racism, and other issues. The class visits to the AGSL are an excellent opportunity to highlight the collection and to teach students to think critically about primary source materials. In line with the values of the AGSL staff and the UWM Library’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, staff decided it was time to reframe the way the AGSL approaches information literacy instruction. The Public Services Librarian developed a primary source literacy and cartographic literacy program where students begin to teach themselves through the use of guided questionnaires and group discussions prompting the students to think critically about cartographic resources. This article will describe the AGSL’s approach to cartographic and primary literacy source instruction with classes in multiple disciplines and in both undergraduate and graduate levels.