To thrive in their positions, new and veteran librarians must continually develop new competencies and refine their traditional skills, and they must be ready to evaluate new roles and priorities as libraries evolve. The Evolution of Librarianship uses a historical lens to explore the wide range of roles librarians have taken on to maintain libraries’ vibrancy and relevance over time.

Susan Rathbun-Grubb encourages readers to think about several broad questions: What is the purpose of librarianship, past and present? Why do we prize certain skill sets above others when hiring and promoting effective librarians? What are the essential skills that define the profession? Thought leaders and pioneers in the field have pondered these questions for centuries; what can they tell us that will inspire and guide us to meet today’s needs? Rathbun-Grubb’s expertise in librarian competencies and skill in explaining complex topics in accessible terms equips readers with a clearer understanding of the philosophies of librarianship that have led to both continuity and innovation in the evolution of the field.

Features

• Provides an overview of the changing (and durable) roles of librarians throughout history
• Demystifies the language of philosophical library literature to point out how different epistemologies lead to the creation and acceptance of professional roles, competencies, and services
• Encourages readers to question which roles of librarianship are essential and why
• Encourages readers to explore how these essential roles are (or could be) actualized