The Heart of Librarianship: Attentive, Positive, and Purposeful Change

Michael Stephens

ISBN-13: 9780838914540

176 pages 
 6 x 9 
 2016

"While full of tales of innovation, ideas that challenge our practice, and a regular dose of critical thinking, these pages are likewise full of humanism and heart."—Brian Kenney, Director at White Plains Public Library (NY); from the Foreword

Adaptation to change that’s based on thoughtful planning and grounded in the mission of libraries: it’s a model that respected LIS thinker and educator Michael Stephens terms _hyperlinked librarianship.î And the result, for librarians in leadership positions as well as those working on the front lines, is flexible librarianship that’s able to stay closely aligned with the needs and wants of library users. In this collection of essays from his _Office Hoursî columns in Library Journal, Stephens explores the issues and emerging trends that are transforming the profession. Among the topics he discusses are:

• the importance of accessible, welcoming, and responsive library environments that invite open and equitable participation, and which factors are preventing many libraries from ramping up community engagement and user-focused services;
• challenges, developments, and emerging opportunities in the field, including new ways to reach users and harness curiosity;
• considerations for prospective librarians, from knowing what you want out of the profession to learning how to aim for it;
• why LIS curriculum and teaching styles need to evolve;
• mentoring and collaboration; and
• the concept of the library as classroom, a participatory space to experiment with new professional roles, new technologies, and new ways of interacting with patrons.