This is the first of a short series previews of talks to be given at the LILAC conference next week by colleagues from Sheffield University. First we have Laura Williams, librarian and doctoral scholar, reflecting on one of her talks (scheduled for next Wednesday): 'All mushrooms are edible but some only once': Exploring conceptualisations of information literacy in risky leisure contexts through hobbyist mycology. Over to Laura!
This LILAC talk about information literacy and mushroom foraging began life as a zine created last year. Last year I found myself developing an interest in fungi, enjoying walks to spot mushrooms as a form of mindfulness. This interest quickly escalated into an obsession. Hundreds of photographs on my phone, reading books and websites to learn how to identify mushrooms, and joining Facebook groups. I do not like eating mushrooms, but I found myself becoming fascinated with the information richness of hobbyist mycology.
I turned these thoughts into a zine which more broadly explores the information world of hobbyist mycology. The ideas from that zine have now been developed into a conceptual paper focusing on the information literacy aspects and management of the risks associated with foraging.
I share that story as insight into how I have ended up on the LILAC programme with a presentation which is neither an output from my doctoral research, nor my work as a librarian. Whilst mushrooms may not be directly linked to my doctoral research about information practices in ultramarathon running, there is certainly a connection.
My doctoral research has also involved in depth exploration of information literacy in an everyday life and leisure setting.
The research question explored is how practices of information literacy are used to manage risk in hobbyist mycology.
This talk will be a conceptual presentation in which I draw upon selected literature about mushroom foraging to identify ways that information literacy practices are enacted. I draw upon Annemaree Lloyd’s work around information literacy as a socially constructed practice and the work of Alison Hicks on risk-informed information practices. As the title of my talk suggests, mushroom foraging could be considered a risky hobby, with risk of illness or even death from accidental poisoning.
The talk explores social, cultural and technological factors through which information literacy is enacted. Hobbyist mycology involves many forms of information as part of decision making and negotiating uncertainty. However, little is currently known about the ways information literacy is enacted within these different information activities, and other risky leisure activities.
Through the provocation of ‘all mushrooms are edible but some only once’ this paper calls for the information literacy community to look towards a rich, overlooked site for understanding every day and leisure information literacy.
For a researcher who is reaching the final stages of PhD life, writing this abstract for LILAC was an opportunity to find out what would happen if I was bold enough to stray beyond my comfort zone. To find out whether I can take a different question in another space within leisure information, review the literature, explore different theories and present my ideas to an audience.
Screenshot by Laura Williams, showing one of the mushroom folders on her phone.
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