Using the World Café Methodology to support community-centric research and practice in library and information science

• Published in: Library & information science research 2020-10, Vol.42 (4), p.101050, Article 101050
• Main Authors: Kitzie, Vanessa L., Pettigrew, Jocelyn, Wagner, Travis L., Vera, A. Nick
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Community; Community forum; Health information; Lgbtqia; Library and information science; Public libraries; Social networks; The world café; User services
• ISSN: 0740-8188; 1873-1848
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lisr.2020.101050

The World Café (TWC) methodology is a form of action research that develops collective knowledge among individuals and communities to address shared problems. TWC can complement LIS research and practice that is increasingly participatory and community centric. The potentials and pitfalls for TWC are illustrated by ongoing research examining public library service to LGBTQIA+ communities for health information. The authors used TWC in a community forum between LGBTQIA+ community leaders and librarians/paraprofessionals in [name removed for blind review]. Per TWC conventions, participants engaged in day-long rotating café-style table conversations that encouraged new ideas and collective dialog. Discussion centered on two themes: barriers to health information faced by LGBTQIA+ communities and collective strategies for leaders and librarians/paraprofessionals to address them. Findings indicate that TWC can advance LIS research and practice in the following ways: refuting deficit frameworks, fostering information communities, and supporting social-justice-oriented praxis. Methodological shortcomings relate to the blind spots TWC affords to social inequality and power. The authors recommend that researchers and practitioners should incorporate intersectional and reflexive methods into TWC to address these shortcomings. •The World Café (TWC) is an action research methodology that can support community-centric LIS research and practice.•The authors applied TWC to a health community forum between LGBTQIA+ communities and public libraries.•TWC can refute deficit frameworks, foster information communities, and support social-justice-oriented praxis.•TWC can fail to consider structural inequality and facilitate social change.•Researchers and practitioners should incorporate reflexive and intersectional methods into TWC to address its shortcomings.