Tag Archives: academic librarianship

From Instruction Anxiety to Instruction Confidence: Lessons from an Accidental Teacher

July 1, 2026Essayacademic librarianship, confidence, early career librarians, library instruction, student-centered learning, teachingEditor

Lindsay Grubin Wong
Georgia State University Library – Dunwoody
Learning & Engagement Librarian
lwong11@gsu.edu

Abstract

Many academic librarians enter instructional roles without formal training in education, often leading to feelings of anxiety, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome. This reflective article explores the process of developing confidence as a librarian instructor through lived experience rather than formal pedagogical training. Drawing on personal experiences, it examines common early challenges such as overpreparing, overexplaining, and focusing on performance over student learning. It also highlights key shifts that supported growth, including redefining instructional roles, prioritizing student-centered learning, embracing reflection, and seeking mentorship and community. By emphasizing vulnerability, authenticity, and gradual skill development, this article offers practical insights and encouragement for new librarians navigating instruction for the first time.

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Critique, Postcritique and Libraries

August 25, 2025Essayacademic librarianship, critical librarianship, critique, hermeneutic of suspicion, postcritiqueEditor

by Mark Eaton
Reader Services Librarian / Professor
Kingsborough Community College Library
Brooklyn, New York

Abstract

This paper, adopting a perspective from the recent literature of “postcritique”, finds that criticism in librarianship can be constructively supplemented with other methodological approaches. Instead of exclusively using criticism to analyze, dismantle and find fault with texts, librarianship can expand its perspectives to find new reparative possibilities of care. Following the work of Nicholas Holm, Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, Bruno Latour, Rita Felski and others, we can see that while criticism has thrived as a disposition in librarianship and elsewhere, recent scholarly interventions suggest that it is not the only possible approach. This paper ultimately argues that a postcritical disposition can sit alongside a critical disposition, not as a replacement, but as an additive.

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Not Just a School Librarian: Navigating Identity During a Career Pivot

July 31, 2025Essayacademic librarianship, career, high school, management, school librariansEditor

by Kaitlyn R. Carpenter, MLS, MLIS

Introduction – A Moment of Tension

Sitting in the cafe with a colleague I admire, I watched as she tore my first attempt at a curriculum vitae (CV) apart. Every criticism held an undertone of ‘I know you do more than this’ and ‘this is a CV of just a school librarian’. Her daughter recently graduated from the high school I have been serving as the solo librarian at for the past three years, so she was well aware of the extent of work I put into my current position. She gave me the valuable advice that the hardest part of my transition from high school librarian to an academic librarian would be “breaking the bias” because so many librarians are siloed in their own areas that we each have our own preconceived notions of what each other does. Next, she gave an example of what many academic librarians would think when seeing my current CV, “How cute, you gave little Jenny a romance book!” This comment both raised my hackles ready to fight and defend school librarians, but also made me hang my head in defeat and think ‘yeah, who am I kidding trying to make this leap? I am obviously not qualified.’ As a school librarian, I feel this dichotomy often—the feeling of fierce independence and confidence, while also feeling that I have no value as a librarian outside of the k12 environment.

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My Journey into Librarianship: Career Mobility and Mentorship in an Academic Library

August 31, 2023Peer-Reviewed Articleacademic librarianship, BIPOC in LIS, Career mobility, Mentorship, New librarians, Tenure-track facultyEditor

By Jennifer Olguin
New Mexico State University
Rio Grande Historical Collections Archivist
New Mexico State University Library Archives & Special Collections

Abstract

It is critical to understand the external and internal motivating factors that lead prospective library professionals into the field. This experience-based piece reflects on my journey into librarianship and explores how mentorship plays a pivotal role in recruiting and retaining prospective librarians. This personal narrative presents experiences at a doctoral granting state university transitioning from work-study student to a tenure-track faculty role. This article highlights the importance of mentorship within the academic profession as novices learn the ins and outs of librarianship and build toward a future career. Current librarians could use this insight as motivation to provide mentorship to assist in developing future library professionals and provide support for those eager for a career in the field.

Keywords: Career mobility, Mentorship, New librarians, Academic librarianship, BIPOC in LIS, Tenure-track faculty
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Begin at the beginning: Library collaboration with early college high school freshmen

December 20, 2016Peer-Reviewed Articleacademic librarianship, college, early college high schools, high school students, higher education, information literacy, Matthew Harrick, outreach, STEMEditor

By Matthew Harrick
Brooklyn College

Abstract:

Early College High Schools partner with colleges and universities to ease traditionally underrepresented and at-risk high school students into college life, increase students’ college readiness, and provide the opportunity to earn college credits while simultaneously earning high school diplomas. One such partnership is between Brooklyn College and the STAR (Science, Technology and Research) program at Erasmus High School in Brooklyn, NY. As part of their introduction to college life, small groups of freshmen receive basic college library orientations prior to enrolling in credit-bearing courses as juniors and seniors. The education and liaison librarian to Early College High School programs created a six-week information literacy, science and research-based pilot seminar to further increase the college readiness of high school students.

Keywords: Early College High Schools; Information Literacy; STEM Research; Academic Libraries; Outreach; High School Students; College; Higher Education.

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