Document Type

Book

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

This book chapter investigates how academic librarians at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) define and contribute to student success, offering a perspective often underrepresented in library and information science literature. Drawing on a national survey of HBCU librarians, the authors explore how these professionals interpret student success both institutionally and personally, revealing tensions between traditional metrics—such as retention and graduation rates—and more holistic, empowerment-based frameworks. The study highlights the diverse, often under-recognized ways HBCU librarians support students, including information literacy instruction, mentorship, and emotional support. It also critiques the limitations of graduate LIS education in preparing librarians for culturally responsive service in minority-serving institutions. The chapter advocates for the integration of HBCU-based educational frameworks and critical race theory into LIS curricula to foster more inclusive, anti-racist librarianship.

Comments

This book chapter appears in Student Success Librarianship: Critical Perspectives on an Evolving Profession, edited by Olivia Patterson and Melody Lee Rood, and published by the Association of College & Research Libraries Press (2025). Learn more about the book here: https://www.ala.org/news/2025/03/new-acrl-student-success-librarianship-critical-perspectives-evolving-profession

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