Drifting through Research: How the Bibliodérive Inspired New Approaches to Information Literacy at Flaxman Library

A bibliodérive is the application of the Situationist International practice of the dérive or “drift” to the realm of research, libraries, and archives. The Flaxman Library (School of the Art Institute of Chicago) bibliodérive event in February 2015 was a collection of open-ended actions, or situations, designed to challenge students to think non-linearly about research. Using approaches similar to the bibliodérive event, Flaxman librarians have experimented with new methods of library instruction that advance these generative and serendipitous modes of research. This article describes how librarians incorporated these practices along with the ACRL Framework into instruction.