Librarianship Beyond the Textbook is an essential resource that fills a critical gap in professional library literature. Editor Nay Keppler has assembled a diverse group of accomplished practitioners who address the real-world challenges that library leaders face daily, from managing burnout and psychological safety to navigating office politics, budgeting constraints, and technology leadership. What sets this collection apart is its grounding in lived experience: these are not theoretical exercises, but practical wisdom drawn from the trenches of library work. The contributors tackle both hard skills like facilities management, project management, and security, alongside equally vital soft skills including self-care, interpersonal dynamics, and advocacy. This dual focus acknowledges what library schools often overlook: that effective leadership requires both operational competence and emotional intelligence. Whether read cover-to-cover or consulted chapter-by-chapter as challenges arise, Librarianship Beyond the Textbook serves as the on-demand mentor that every library leader deserves, offering not just solutions but solidarity, understanding that the complexity of modern library leadership demands both professional expertise and profound humanity.

Trevor A. Dawes, Vice Provost for Libraires and Museums and May Morris University Librarian, University of Delaware, USA, and consultant, Inclusive Knowledge Solutions

Librarianship Beyond the Textbook is a vital and timely resource that speaks directly to the real work of librarianship today. Moving beyond theory, this book centers the lived experiences of library professionals navigating leadership, equity, community engagement, and institutional change. The contributors offer practical wisdom, candid reflections, and actionable strategies that are rarely taught but deeply needed in practice. This work affirms libraries as essential community anchors and challenges readers to lead with courage, empathy, and accountability. An essential read for current and aspiring library leaders committed to impactful, equity-driven librarianship.

Richard E. Ashby Jr., President, Pennsylvania Library Association; Director, Sharon Hill Public Library, USA; Chair, Ethnic & Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT), American Library Association; and Co-Founder, LiteracyNation Inc., ALA

As a library leader, information professional, and lifelong learner, I view the library as a classroom. Just like in any classroom, I discover something new every day, whether it is about processes, approaches, or techniques that help me grow as a leader and enhance our services. I also value the wisdom that comes from the lived experiences of my fellow library workers and those within the broader profession. Librarianship Beyond the Textbook provides a space to explore and embrace these ideas.

This timely and practical volume goes beyond theory to address the realities of leadership, equity, mentorship, safety, advocacy, budgeting, partnerships, and community engagement with clarity and authenticity. Library leaders, frontline information professionals, LIS students, and those who support and advocate for libraries will find this volume insightful. Through the voices and lived experiences of a diverse group of contributors, the chapters in this volume affirm that libraries flourish when we intentionally cultivate workplaces and community spaces grounded in belonging, mattering, and accountability.

Shannon D. Jones, Director of Libraries, Medical University of South Carolina, USA, and 2025-2026 Reference and User Services Association President