An updated workbook for new instruction librarians

CHICAGO — Written by a team of library instructors whose “experience and expertise in this field is evident throughout” (VOYA), Candice Benjes-Small and Rebecca Miller Waltz’s “The New Instruction Librarian: A Workbook for Trainers and Learners” has been praised as “a solid overview of academic instruction librarianship for both supervisors and novices” (Library Journal). Now the authors have updated their one-stop starter kit to better address differing perspectives and experiences in librarianship while thoroughly reflecting the significant ways in which the field has changed since the book’s first edition in 2016. Easing the transition into library instruction while supporting all those involved, including supervisors, colleagues, and trainees, this hands-on workbook published by ALA Editions:

• incorporates research on teaching and learning from numerous disciplines, including but not limited to library literature, that has been sharpened and refreshed for this edition;
• guides readers through training a new colleague or someone new to instruction, complete with reflection questions, sample lesson plans, activities, and advice from experts throughout the field;
• explores the different roles an instruction librarian is usually expected to play, such as colleague, instructional designer, teaching partner, advocate, project manager, and learner;
• adopts a person-centered approach to the role, with new chapters on critical information literacy and sustainable practices; and
• provides tips on self-assessment, self-care, resiliency, and continuing education, both formal and informal, to set readers on a successful path of teaching, learning, and professional growth.

The authors co-founded The Innovative Library Classroom, a popular regional information literacy conference that won the 2016 Beta Phi Mu Conference Support Award.

Benjes-Small is the head of research services at William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA. She has served as president of the Virginia chapter of ACRL (VLACRL) and has been active on many ALA, ACRL, and VLACRL committees. She has written numerous publications on information literacy and was lead author on an article about cognitive development and web evaluation which was selected as a Top 20 article by the Library Instruction Round Table (LIRT). She has also served as an adjunct professor for the library science graduate programs at Syracuse University and Old Dominion University.

Waltz is the Associate Dean for Learning and Engagement at Penn State University Libraries in State College, Pennsylvania. A 2012 ALA Emerging Leader, she has served as an adjunct instructor for Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies and a facilitator for the ACRL Information Literacy Immersion Program since 2017. Rebecca has been active in regional, state, and national library organizations and has authored and coauthored numerous books, book chapters, technical reports, and articles, including publications in College & Research Libraries News, Journal of Learning Spaces, Library Leadership & Management, and Journal of Library Administration.

ALA Store purchases fund advocacy, awareness and accreditation programs for library and information professionals worldwide. ALA Editions publishes resources used by library and information professionals, scholars, students, and educators to improve programs and services, build on best practices, enhance pedagogy, share research, develop leadership, and promote advocacy. ALA authors and developers are leaders in their fields, and their content is published in a variety of print and electronic formats. Contact ALA Editions at editionsmarketing@ala.org.