The Psychology of Librarianship
Editors: Lynn Gullickson Spencer, Leanne VandeCreek, and H. Stephen Wright
Publisher: Library Juice Press
ISBN: 978-1-63400-016-1
Physical Description: 6X9; 406p.
The Psychology of Librarianship is a collection of scholarly essays on the role of psychology in libraries and library work. It is the first book-length, in-depth study of the psychological implications and underpinnings of the library profession. Although there have been occasional articles about the psychological dimensions of library work, there has never been a book that attempts a broader and more comprehensive examination of this topic.Psychology is a factor in virtually every aspect of librarianship. Beyond the expected psychological issues inherent in any organization, there are psychological dimensions that are unique to library work. The Psychology of Librarianship addresses both of these: how traditional organizational psychology applies to librarianship, and how library work involves unique psychological situations. The thirteen essays examine topics such as the role of social psychology in information literacy, the problems of stereotypes within the library profession, addictions and the library, and technology anxiety.
Lynn Gullickson Spencer is a music cataloger at North Park College and a cataloger at Wilmette Public Library; she holds an M.L.S. from Indiana University, an M.M. in Music History and Literature from Northwestern University, and an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College.
Leanne VandeCreek has been the Psychology Reference Librarian at Northern Illinois University since 2000. Prior to receiving her M.S.L.I.S., she earned an M.S.W. and was a practicing Clinical Social Worker for 6 years.
H. Stephen Wright is an Emeritus Professor at Northern Illinois University (retired 2012), formerly Catalog Librarian at NIU.