Student success librarian positions, while increasingly common in academic libraries, are still so new to the field that many librarians with this title are the first person in the position and their roles are ambiguous and difficult to define. They often include quantifiable metrics such as retention rates, academic persistence, and graduation rates as well as elements like well-being, belonging, and a sense of purpose. This broad scope has intensified already challenging and emotionally taxing work.
Student Success Librarianship: Critical Perspectives on an Evolving Profession examines this position through a critical lens and provides insight and advice to help the profession work toward a positive evolution of this important role. In three sections—Theory, Praxis, and Research—chapters written by student success librarians explore how to articulate, set boundaries for, and bring our humanity to the role; address student mental health and provide multilingual resources and support; and map both the current state of student success and a vision for its future.
Student success librarians can feel alone in both their love for and critiques of their profession and their roles within it. Student Success Librarianship can help you celebrate your work, find areas of improvement, and offers validation and inspiration.
Introduction
Part I. Theory
Chapter . The Articulation of Student Success
Paul Lai
Chapter
2. The Boundaries of Student Success Librarianship
Nate Floyd and Laura Birkenhauer
Chapter
3. Affected Histories: Leveraging Archives to Support BIPOC Student
Belonging and Success
Victor Betts
Chapter
4. Humanity as Our Superpower: Embracing Our Collective
Vulnerability for Holistic Student Success Librarianship
Amanda R. Glenn-Bradley
Chapter
5. A New Invitation: An Outreach Philosophy Shaped by Hospitality
and the Pandemic
Haley Gillilan
Part II. Praxis
Chapter . Viewing Success Holistically: Addressing Success Outside of the
Classroom
Marí a Evelia Emerson
Chapter
7. Supporting the Academic and Mental Health Needs of
First-Generation Students: An Exploration of Library Services, Outreach, and
Mental Health Advocacy in Fostering the Success of First-Generation Students
Dawn Behrend
Chapter
8. Establishing Relationships with Student Affairs to Improve
Student Success at Private Colleges and Universities
Brittany N. Champion and Carlos Grooms
Chapter
9. Challenges and Opportunities for Student Success Outreach and
Support at a Bilingual Institution
Catherine Lachaî ne
Chapter . Mentorship for Student Success Services
Candace Jacobs and Joanie Chavis
Part III. Research
Chapter . Exploring the Current State of Student Success at Historically
Black College and University Libraries
Sarah N. Hernandez and Harvey Long
Chapter
2. Navigating Student Success: Insights from Student Success
Librarians
Mallory Jallas, Chad Kahl, Jennifer Sharkey, and Chris Worland
Chapter
3. Student Success Librarianship: What Are We Talking About?
Danilo Madayag Baylen, CJ Ivory, and Jenay Solomon-Dougherty
Chapter
4. Uncharted Waters: Mapping a Vision for Student Success
Mallory Jallas, Christine Fary, Rebecca Fitzsimmons, Susan R. Franzen, Sarah
French, and Cassie Thayer-Styes
About the Authors
Olivia Patterson (she/her) is the student success librarian at J. Murrey Atkins Library at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The first to hold this position at Atkins Library and a 2021 graduate of University of North Carolina Greensboro's library and information science program, Olivia brings a critical and student-centered approach to her role, emphasizing the importance of supporting students as whole people. Using her undergraduate degree in sociology from UNC Asheville ('18), Olivia applies critical theory surrounding race, class, gender, sexuality, and disability (and intersections thereof) to her work.
Melody Lee Rood (she/her) is the director of the Miller Learning Center and student success at the University of Georgia in Athens. Prior to her current position, Melody worked as the student success librarian at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro. She received her master's degree in library and information science from North Carolina Central University in 2016 and her bachelor's degree in women's, gender, and sexuality studies from the University of North Carolina Asheville in 2011. Her research interests include outreach for nontraditional students, critical librarianship, open pedagogy, equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice.
