Communities of Practice in the Academic Library: Strategies for Implementation

From this book, academic librarians will learn how to develop and maintain agile and lasting learning relationships amongst their colleagues, fostering professional growth and greater coordination and collaboration within their institution.

How can academic librarians strengthen their practice of teaching and provide education through access to information, using intentional efforts to both learn and share in a social context? Building and fostering communities of practice (CoP) is the ideal way forward, as Reale demonstrates in her new book, which is both inspirational and practical. With her guidance, readers will

• understand how coming together in pursuit of knowledge and shared goals can lead to a more fulfilling work environment and better professional outcomes;
• get pointers on how to begin with simple, casual collaborative efforts that won’t conflict with busy schedules;
• learn from Reale’s personal narratives of how CoP took root at her own institution, and the ways in which it continued to flourish during the lockdowns necessitated by the pandemic;
• receive a flexible CoP framework for implementation that can be tailored to fit their own needs and goals;
• see how to nurture conversation, participation, collaborative inquiry, and mindfulness, all essential ingredients of the CoP;
• feel comfortable using personal stories as tools for sensemaking within the CoP as well as ongoing individual learning and growth; and
• be encouraged to follow through and stick with it, using the reflection questions and activities at the end of each chapter.