From Erasure to Empowerment: The Role of Information in Fighting Epistemicide (Virtual Sample Class)

Libraries, archives, and museums (LAMs) are dynamic spaces for knowledge preservation, accessibility, and engagement. Beyond curation, many information institutions are actively challenging narratives of erasure, amplifying underrepresented voices, and fostering dialogues to empower marginalized communities. From digitization to community engagement, LAMs are redefining their roles as catalysts for social change and advocates for responsible preservation. This talk highlights the transformative potential of LAMs in fighting against epistemicide by shedding light on the multilayered factors perpetuating the systematic erasure of invaluable cultural heritage and ways of knowing. Through case studies and historical inquiry, this talk emphasizes the consequences of epistemicide for individuals, communities, and societies, and calls upon information professionals, scholars, and educators to recognize the urgency of interrupting epistemicide. To inspire a collective commitment to fighting against epistemicide, we must recognize the pivotal role of information and LAMs in collaboratively safeguarding global histories, heritage, and memories to ensure no knowledge is erased.

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