Wade Bishop et al., "A Critical Look at Information Science and Librarianship in a New Age" (Emerald Publishing, 2026)

In this episode of the New Books Network's Scholarly Communication podcast, host Michael LaMagna interviews editors Wade Bishop, Renata Chancellor, and Joe Sanchez about their 2026 book, *A Critical Look at Information Science and Librarianship in a New Age: Constellation of Insanity*, published by Emerald. The conversation explores the evolving identity of information science and librarianship amid societal upheaval and technological transformation. Drawing on metaphors like pirates, ghosts, and unexplored spaces, the editors and contributors challenge the field to move beyond traditional frameworks and embrace marginalized knowledge systems—such as outlaw biker communities, BIPOC manga readers, and the Underground Railroad—as legitimate information practices. The book critiques the profession’s historical exclusion of diverse voices, particularly people of color and women, while advocating for embodied, community-based, and culturally responsive approaches to information. The discussion also addresses the role of AI in shaping a humane digital future, urging librarians to remain critical, ethical, and deeply involved in technological development. The editors reflect on how the book has already influenced their teaching and research, signaling a shift toward more inclusive, creative, and interdisciplinary pedagogy. The episode concludes with insights into the authors’ next projects, including Renata Chancellor’s exploration of the Underground Railroad as an information system, Joe Sanchez’s study of BIPOC manga readers, and Wade Bishop’s work on biodiversity data infrastructures. Together, these conversations underscore a call to action: to re-examine the foundational narratives of LIS, center marginalized epistemologies, and reimagine the profession as a dynamic, evolving constellation of ideas and practices. The book and its themes serve as both a critique and a blueprint for a more equitable, inclusive, and human-centered future in information science.