Strategies for becoming a reflective librarian and teacher

CHICAGO — Too much of the time our attempts at achieving a work/life balance instead amount to a rigid compartmentalization of the different parts of our lives. But the very qualities that make us human, including our thoughts, feelings, and experiences, are the keys to making us better librarians and teachers. The path forward is through reflection, which can help us gain insights that are applicable both personally and professionally. In her new book “Becoming a Reflective Librarian and Teacher: Strategies for Mindful Academic Practice,” published by ALA Editions, Michelle Reale employs a conversational tone to lead readers through the steps of reflective practice, offering:

• a concise framework for reflective practice, from laying the groundwork and getting started through creating and sustaining a reflexive loop;
• guidance on how to use journaling as a tool for expressing experiences, creating a dialogue with oneself, listmaking, and other constructive reflection;
• tips for becoming a reflective practitioner both inside and outside of the classroom;
• a plan for using reflective practice with colleagues through conversation and collaboration; and
• strategies at the end of each chapter for putting ideas into practice.

Reale is an associate professor at Arcadia University near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is also the author of “Mentoring & Managing Students in the Academic Library“ and “Becoming an Embedded Librarian.” Her research interests include embedded librarianship, mentoring, narrative inquiry, and reflective practice.

ALA Store purchases fund advocacy, awareness and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide. ALA Editions publishes resources used worldwide by tens of thousands of library and information professionals to improve programs, build on best practices, develop leadership, and for personal professional development. ALA authors and developers are leaders in their fields, and their content is published in a growing range of print and electronic formats. Contact ALA Editions at (800) 545-2433 ext. 5052 or editionsmarketing@ala.org.