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An important aspect of human information behavior research is to understand the motivations of people as they interact with information and technologies to make a difference. This paper presents exploratory findings of a qualitative study of public librarians' motivations to expand civic engagement for racial justice in the American South. The geographical region is stereotypically characterized historically as being solely racially intolerant in public perceptions, scholarly discourse, political networks, and news media. This research challenges such limited notions, highlighting public librarian's logic‐based motivations to further civic engagement for racial justice in context of the nation's historical/contemporary racialized political climate. In the process, the authors acknowledge the voices/perspectives of public librarians, an often‐underrepresented group in privileged academic information behavior research. Thematic narrative analysis is explored as a strategic mode of presenting the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This panel presents information research cases translating impact into practice, policy, and action that make a difference in varied contexts of study. Initiatives of collective impact are applied and/or proposed, and the following models of research and research studies, exemplifying critical collective impact and making a difference IN research and WITH communities, are discussed in the following three panel presentations: 1. Towards a Critical Approach to Community‐engaged Information Research and Shared Knowledge; 2. From Research to Strategic Planning to Collective Action: A Logic Model Using Theory of Change to Further Civic Engagement for Racial Justice in Public Libraries; 3. Building a Smart City Portal for a Sustainable Future Through a Collective Impact Approach. The presentations are followed by critical engagement with the audience in the session to interrogate making a difference, what contributes to effective community engagement and translatable results, that is, difference in making (process) and making a difference (impact). Panelists represent both practice‐based and academic settings who report on their research, projects, and reflections on applying collective impact in making a difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]