Emotional labour, information literacy instruction, and the COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors

  • Karen Sobel University of Colorado Denver
  • Lorraine Evans University of Colorado Denver

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47408/jldhe.vi19.607

Abstract

The authors of this article, both instruction librarians, have researched the emotional labour that information literacy instruction librarians perform for several years. Several months into the COVID-19 pandemic, they discuss concepts of emotional labour among instruction librarians in that evolving context. They outline common aspects of emotional labour that manifest differently during the pandemic, compared to non-pandemic times. They identify and analyse new layers of emotional labour that many instruction librarians currently experience on top of their “normal” lives and emotional labour. They provide a brief overview of aspects of emotional labour that may be easier or lesser during the pandemic. The article concludes with a call for future research on these concepts, particularly using qualitative and mixed-methods research.

Author Biographies

Karen Sobel, University of Colorado Denver

Karen Sobel is an Associate Professor and Teaching & Learning Librarian at the University of Colorado Denver in the United States. She also directs the Center for Faculty Development & Advancement at the University of Colorado Denver. Her research interests focus on the motivations behind students’ academic behaviours.

Lorraine Evans, University of Colorado Denver

Lorraine Evans is a Senior Instructor and the Teaching & Learning Program Lead Librarian at the University of Colorado Denver in the United States. Lorraine’s academic backgrounds are in psychology and library science; she combines them in the study of emotional labour among academic librarians.

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Published

14-12-2020

How to Cite

Sobel, K. and Evans, L. (2020) “Emotional labour, information literacy instruction, and the COVID-19 Pandemic”, Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, (19). doi: 10.47408/jldhe.vi19.607.

Issue

No. 19 (2020): Special Edition, ALDinHE Conference 2020

Section

Opinion Pieces

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