Social librarianship and social justice

the transformative role of the social librarian

Abstract

Introduction: Contemporary society demands library and information professionals committed to social transformation and capable of acting beyond traditional technical and administrative functions. Objective: This article analyzes social librarianship as an ethical, political, and social praxis oriented toward social justice, emphasizing the role of the social librarian as an agent of community transformation. Methods: This theoretical and conceptual study was developed through a dialectical and critical-analytical approach to social librarianship. A systematic and selective literature search was conducted in scientific databases, library catalogs, institutional repositories, and periodical sources. Data were examined through content analysis, focusing on categories such as social justice, library neutrality, information inequality, and citizen empowerment. Results: The study supports the transition from a welfare-oriented librarianship model to a transformative social librarianship. The social librarian is conceptualized as a mediator of social justice through three main dimensions: redistribution of access to information, recognition of historically marginalized groups, and democratic representation of communities within library spaces. Furthermore, the study proposes an articulation between social, critical, and transformative librarianship. Conclusions: Social librarianship redefines the role of libraries and librarians as strategic actors in reducing inequalities and promoting cultural rights. The findings indicate that libraries can consolidate themselves as spaces of inclusion, participation, and social transformation.