The Atlas Of New Librarianship May 2026

To improve society through facilitating knowledge creation in their communities.

For those interested in exploring the text or its later updates: The Atlas of New Librarianship - R. David Lankes (Review) The atlas of new librarianship

A large visual representation (67 x 89 cm) that links various concepts together, serving as a navigation tool for the field. Its large, coffee-table book format and conversational tone

Its large, coffee-table book format and conversational tone were intended to stimulate ongoing professional dialogue rather than provide a rigid encyclopedia of facts. Critical Reception and Impact Practical Resources Drawing on Conversation Theory , Lankes

Some reviewers found its theoretical depth "cumbersome" and "off-putting," noting that it occasionally ignores the historical roots and technical complexities (like cataloging) essential to the profession. Critics also challenged its radical constructivist epistemology, labeling it as "philosophically sloppy" for de-emphasizing objective truth. Practical Resources

Drawing on Conversation Theory , Lankes posits that knowledge is socially constructed through language and intersubjective agreements rather than objective, static facts.

The "New Librarianship" described in the Atlas is built upon three foundational pillars: