The work of Susan Leigh Star, the late critical thinker, spans multiple fields, among them sociology, computer supported collaborative work, and informatics writ large. This book of essays honors her legacy, and yet is not merely an homage. This edited volume also reflects on the social context of library and information science, as well as other socio-technical-scientific disciplines. Leigh Star’s work continues to profoundly impact the field of LIS. This volume is an exceptionally good “reader” for use in introducing this canonical work to newcomers, as well as providing deep scholarly reflection and perspective.
Organized around four thematic areas that Leigh Star’s work explores—ecologies of knowledge, boundary objects, marginalities and suffering, and infrastructure, each section begins and ends with a key selection from Leigh Star’s work, followed by well-written essays that explore the theme. Carefully edited, this collection serves as an inspiration to take the time to look at the invisible, the marginalized, and the problematic –and an exhortation to be more fully human in our research.
