“Valuing the Community College Library: Powerful Impact for Institutional Success”
To submit a proposal, please include the following in your email to cclibra...@gmail.com
Author name(s), title, email and institution
Working chapter title
300-500 word chapter abstract
Feel free to also include author CV(s)
Overview:
To be published by ACRL, this edited volume provides a holistic approach to exhibiting community college library value through historical context, practical applications, and future thinking. It addresses why community college libraries exist and should exist. In this process, we ask authors to reflect on their practice with an eye toward nuanced approaches to how they situate themselves at their institutions. Through case studies, editorials, and practical approaches, this volume addresses community college library value and, as such, advocates that perspective with campus administration.
Often academic librarianship is dominated by the perspectives of 4-year and beyond colleges and universities. We aim to fill this gap with a text that shines a light on the compelling work in community college libraries and provides authors the support they need to write about that work. We believe that community college librarians can lead our libraries into the future. We can learn from each other through dialogue and create space to share ideas and practical approaches to our work. It’s time we give voice to and showcase innovative, practical approaches to the work in community college libraries across the country.
If you haven’t published before, that’s okay! We want fresh perspectives, new perspectives, and unpublished authors!
For more information about submitting your proposal, please visit: https://www.communitycollegelibraries.com/
Proposed Chapter Ideas:
Background on Community College Libraries
Historical literature review
Structure of Community College Libraries over time
How libraries have been the “heart of the campus”
Current Issues & Existing narratives
Existing structures and management of community college libraries
Faculty v. Non-Faculty librarians
Subject specialists, function specialists, or generalists.
Budget Models: Budgets and priority of role on campus.
Negative self-talk
The passive library.
Are community college libraries stuck in a rut?
Future of Community College Libraries
The role of the community college library: Interdisciplinary?
Where does the library fit organizationally on campus? (Academic, Student service, Information Technology, Community Outreach, Business)
Driving campus culture: EDI, Student Success, etc.
Teaching
Hiring librarians
Skills for the future
The physical space of the library
Programming and outreach
Storytelling and Data Analytics
Advocacy on campus
Questions for the future - Researched editorials
We can’t do it all, what do we let go of?
What’s good enough? Is perfection the enemy of getting things done?
Is tenure failing librarianship?
Why are there Ideas that we can't implement?
Where does content fit in our libraries?
How big should our library be?
Who belongs at the reference desk now?
Ancillary projects:
The editors will present this book with a companion podcast where they will ask all chapter authors to discuss their chapter development and investigate their work further. We will also host a panel exploring the chapters in this book to discuss practical implications and a companion website.
Timeline, audience, expected publication date:
Our core audience for this book is community college library employees, community college administrators, and community college faculty.
Proposal Length: 300-500 words
Submit to: cclibra...@gmail.com
Brief Timeline:
September 7, 2022 - Call for proposals released
October 26, 2022 - Chapter proposal submission due to editors
January 2023 - Authors contacted regarding chapter proposals
June 1, 2023 - Chapters due from authors
Summer 2025 - Anticipated publication date
Please feel free to reach out to us at cclibra...@gmail.com with any questions.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Terra Jacobson, Moraine Valley Community College and Spencer Brayton, Waubonsee Community College