Course
MOOC- Human Rights–Centered Academic Librarianship and Documentation Practice
Self-paced
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Full course description
In today’s complex information landscape, librarians and information professionals play a vital role in supporting human rights, democratic governance, and access to knowledge. This MOOC introduces a practical and reflective approach to librarianship that places human rights principles at the centre of professional practice.
Designed for librarians, documentalists, and information specialists working in academic institutions, human rights organisations, and public bodies, this course builds on established library practice while situating it within broader legal, ethical, and institutional frameworks.
What you will learn
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
- Situate your work within global and regional human rights systems and frameworks
- Apply a human rights–based approach (HRBA) to library services, collections, and user engagement
- Develop and manage specialised human rights collections using clear, ethical, and transparent criteria
- Support research, advocacy, and accountability processes by guiding users to authoritative sources
- Design inclusive and accessible information services, even in resource-constrained environments
- Navigate key ethical and legal challenges, including access, confidentiality, and anti-censorship
Course approach
This MOOC combines conceptual understanding with practical application. It emphasises that libraries are not neutral repositories, but active actors in supporting participation, transparency, and the realisation of rights.
Through real-world scenarios, practical examples, and guided reflection, you will explore how your daily work—from reference services to cataloguing, outreach, and digital systems—can strengthen access to information and contribute to human rights outcomes.
Key topics
The course is structured into core modules covering:
- Foundations of international human rights law and systems
- The evolving role of the human rights librarian
- Applying HRBA to collections, services, and user needs
- Searching and navigating human rights information systems
- Ethical practice, including anti-censorship and privacy
- Strategic planning, policies, and impact evaluation
- Outreach, digital communication, and inclusive library spaces
- Emerging issues such as AI and the future of librarianship
Who this course is for
This course is designed for:
- Academic and research librarians
- Librarians and documentalists in human rights institutions
- Information professionals supporting legal, policy, or advocacy work
- Early-career professionals seeking to specialise in human rights librarianship
No prior expertise in human rights law is required.