Infinite Archives, Infinite Possibilities: Learning Research and Databases with Archive of our Own

Abstract

This article will discuss the importance of acknowledging the information practices of subcultural groups within library instruction and fostering an inclusive learning environment with the implementation of a workshop by comparing research databases with the popular fanfiction website, Archive of Our Own. By incorporating AO3 into library instruction, students’ interests and prior experiences were engaged by utilizing the principles of subcultural capital. The workshop utilized students’ knowledge of information searching from their personal lives and their interests to highlight similarities with academic research using examples such as filters, keywords, and author searching. This allowed students to develop skills to search precisely for materials in a familiar environment. Further, the success of the workshop demonstrates how librarians can incorporate fan’s informational behaviors, and access practices into instructional content about research and database usage, making research less intimidating and more accessible to students.