Structuration Theory as a Lens for Examining Agency and Constraints in Information Literacy Pedagogy

Giddens’ structuration theory is used to demonstrate to pre-service librarians how to consider structural constraints in their future work and develop agency in the face of institutional and political barriers. A rich example is provided by empirical findings over decades of research on information literacy instruction in academic libraries. Structuration theory provides an opportunity to reconsider these findings, to think about the constraints under which librarians struggle, and to identify those points of structuration where they exercise agency despite the seemingly intransigent organizational arrangements and political contexts limiting their instructional work. Instructional librarians are confronted by a range of structural constraints relating to campus power dynamics and resource allocations. However, understanding that opportunities exist to challenge existing institutional arrangements can motivate librarians to persevere in their critical professional efforts.