Learning about librarianship is a process that balances broad principles and specifics, which reflect either a particular organization’s priorities or those of a specialization within our field.  The first half of this book directs attention to some of the overarching ideas that inform librarians’ work, including history, ethics, and information seeking.  Regardless of the type of library or organization that a librarian serves, our history, values, and skills are shared ones, and they provide a foundation for librarians’ growth in their roles in libraries.

This second part of the book shares the perspectives of experts in particular areas of practice, offering their ideas and experiences that reveal what it means to work in different kinds of libraries.  Specializations have long been grouped into four larger practice clusters: public libraries; academic, or college and university, libraries; special libraries, or those serving corporations or organizations other than learning-directed entities; plus school libraries, or those sited in and serving the teachers and students of a school or school district.  Within these categories, any number of further specializations are possible: For example, public libraries have catalogers, some have local history librarians, and youth services librarians and reference librarians are standard roles in this type of library.  There are library managers in nearly every kind of library, too.  As services and resources change, new roles will continue to emerge (and some familiar titles will change or even be replaced).  This section offers perspectives on both long-standing and new jobs in the field.

The essays we share here are authored by faculty and librarians who graciously describe their specializations for us.  With their years of education and practice, they introduce select areas of practice pursued by many University of Iowa SLIS alumni.  Each author describes core aspects of their work, along with the traits and aptitudes that will enable someone to function comfortably and well in this part of the field.  Emerging issues are also a theme.  Our authors provide resources that also allow you to continue learning beyond these overviews as well.  These essays are intended as an initial overview of different types of librarianship, with both information and personal perspectives on practice.

Authors and specializations include:

• Stephanie Blalock on digital humanities librarianship,
• Angela Fritz on archives,
• Colleen Theisen on special collections librarianship,
• Kara Logsden on public libraries,
• Lucy Santos Green and Jackie Biger on school libraries,
• James M. Cox on academic libraries, and
• Nancy Henke on Open Educational Resources (OER) librarianship.

Additional areas, including cataloging, will be added soon.