Catherine Irving

Library Coordinator

Catherine joined the Coady Institute in 1992 as an Assistant at the Marie Michael Library. Catherine is now responsible for the overall operations of the library, as well as maintaining the library’s catalogue on the Novanet system. She has taught classes on preparing an independent study, serves as an independent study advisor, and has been a resource person for the Resource Centres for Learning and Change Certificate offered by the Institute. In addition, Catherine has published research on libraries and adult education, and Internet use by women’s resource centres. She has also collaborated on comprehensive literature reviews on gender and adult learning in Canada, and transformative learning. Catherine has facilitated the Research Processes and Methods elective within the Diploma program. Catherine holds a MA in Sociology from Memorial University of Newfoundland, and a BA in Sociology (1st class honours) from St. Francis Xavier University.

Selected Publications & Presentations

Irving, C.J. (2020). Critical information literacy: Adult learning and community perspectives. RELA: European Journal for Research on the Education and Learning of Adults. 11(1), 65-76. (193K pdf)

Irving, C.J. (2018). Extension in a box: The creation and dispersal of the little library that fed the study clubs of the Antigonish Movement. In B. Kapplinger & Maren Elfert (Eds.), Verlassene orte der erwachsenenbildung in Deutschland=Abandoned places of adult education in Canada, (pp. 161-173). Peter Lang.

Irving, C.J. (2018). Resource centres promoting information access, activism and people’s knowledge (Innovation series no. 10). Coady Institute. (888K pdf)

den Heyer, M., Irving, C., & Smith, E. (2017). Sharing stories of change: Documenting the link between transformative education and social action. CASAE East Conference, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS.

den Heyer, M., Smith, E., & Irving, C. (2017). Learning from stories of change: An internal evaluation study. Coady Institute. (3.4 Mb pdf)

Irving, C.J. (2017, July 4-6). Information access and activism: Libraries and resource centres promoting and curating people’s knowledge. In G. Kong & E. Boeren (Eds.), Proceedings of 46th Annual Standing Conference on University Teaching and Research in the Education of Adults (SCUTREA), Edinburgh (pp. 211-217). University of Edinburgh. (194K pdf)

Irving, C.J. (2016). The women of the Antigonish Movement. In D. Clover, L. Collins, S. Butterwick, & D. Chovanec, (Eds.), Women, adult education, learning and leadership in Canada (p. 228). Thompson Educational. Link to publisher.

Irving, C.J. (2016). Women working for libraries, learning and social change. In D. Clover, L. Collins, S. Butterwick, & D. Chovanec (Eds.), Women, adult education, learning and leadership in Canada (pp. 217-230). Thompson Educational. Link to publisher.

English, L.M., & Irving, C.J. (2015). Feminism and adult education: The nexus of policy, practice and payment. Canadian Journal for the Study of Adult Education, 27(2), 1-15.

English, L.M., & Irving, C.J. (2015). Feminism in community: Adult education for transformation. Sense Publishers. Link to publisher.

Irving, C.J., & English, L.M. (2015, June 3-5). International policies in adult education: A critical feminist analysis. Proceedings of the 34th annual conference of the Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education, Montreal, QC (pp. 160-164). Université de Montréal.

Irving, C. (2014). Antigonish Movement. In D. Coghlan & M. Brydon-Miller (Eds.), The SAGE encyclopedia of action research (pp. 38-40). Sage.

Lee, N., Irving, C., & Francuz, J. (2014, October 24-26). Community-embedded learning and experimentation: Fostering spaces for transformative learning online. In A. Nicolaides & D. Holt (Eds.), Spaces of transformation and transformation of space: Proceedings of XI Transformative Learning Conference, New York. Teachers College, Columbia University. (464K pdf)

Irving, C. (2013, June 3-5). People’s educational spaces: Antigonish and Highlander as institutional cases supporting learning in social movements. In C. Kawalilak & J. Groen (Eds.), Proceedings of the 32nd annual conference of the Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education, Victoria, BC (pp. 239-245). University of Victoria. (222K pdf)

English, L.M., & Irving, C.J. (2012). Women and transformative learning. In E.W. Taylor & P. Cranton (Eds.), The handbook of transformative learning. Jossey-Bass.

Irving, C., & Adams, S. (2012, May 28-June 1). Not so quiet after all: Two outspoken librarians of the Antigonish Movement. In S. Brigham (Ed.), Proceedings of the 31st annual conference of the Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education, Waterloo, ON (pp. 173-179). Wilfred Laurier University. (39K pdf)

Foroughi, B., Irving, C., & Savage, S. (2011, July 5-7). A local case of global learning: critical reflections on leadership education for international community development practitioners. In A.-M. Houghton (Ed.), Proceedings of the 41st Annual Standing Conference on University Teaching and Research in the Education of Adults (SCUTREA), Lancaster (pp.41-48). University of Lancaster. (80K pdf)

Irving, C.J., & English, L.M. (2011, June 9-12). Transformative learning with women: A critical review proposing linkages for the personal and political spheres. Proceedings of the 52nd National Conference of the AERC and the 30th National Conference of CASAE, Toronto, ON, pp. 305-312. OISE-University of Toronto. (53K pdf)

Foroughi, B., Irving, C., & Savage, S. (2011, June 8). Learning leadership for community action. Pre-conference Roundtable Presentation, Honouring CASAE: Past, Present and Future, OISE-University of Toronto.

Irving, C.J., & English, L.M. (2011). Community in cyberspace: Gender, social movement learning and the Internet. Adult Education Quarterly, 61(3), 262-278. (StFX access)

Irving, C.J., & English, L.M. (2011). Women, information and communication technologies, and lifelong learning. In V.C.X. Wang, (Ed.), Encyclopedia of information communication technologies and adult education integration. IGI Global.

Irving, C.J. (2010). Reviving a community’s adult education past: A case study of the library’s role in learning. Journal of Adult and Continuing Education, 16(2), 21-35. (StFX access)

Irving, C. (2010, July 6-8). Reviving a community’s proud past to contemplate its future. Proceedings of the 40th Annual Conference of the Standing Conference on University Teaching and Research in the Education of Adults (SCUTREA), University of Warwick. (34K pdf)

Irving, C. (2010, May 30-June 1). Adult educators in the library. Proceedings of the 29th National CASAE Conference, Montreal, QC. Concordia University. (35K pdf)

Irving, C., & English, L.M. (2010, May 29-June 1). Women’s ways of e-learning. Proceedings of the Canadian Association for the Study of Women and Education National Conference, Montreal, QC. Concordia University.

Irving, C., & English, L.M. (2009, May 25-27). Feminist network activism and education in Canada. Proceedings of the 28th National CASAE Conference, Montreal, QC. Carleton University. (66K pdf)

English, L.M., & Irving, C.J. (2008). Reflexive texts: Issues of knowledge, power and discourse in researching gender and learning. Adult Education Quarterly, 58(4), 267-283. (StFX access)

Irving, C.J., & English, L.M. (2008). Partnering for research: A critical discourse analysis. Studies in Continuing Education, 30(2), 107-118. (72K pdf)

Contact: cirving[at]stfx.ca