(via Dr. Thomas Weeks, Augusta University)
We are happy to invite chapter proposals for Academic Libraries Advocating for Student Success, a new edited volume to be published by Bloomsbury. The book will explore how libraries define, support, measure, and communicate their impact on student achievement. This book will feature research and case studies across instruction and reference services, student research engagement, collections, outreach and programming, and library spaces, offering a holistic look at how academic libraries demonstrate value in an era of data‑driven decision‑making. Prospective authors are encouraged to share innovative assessment methods, practical experiences, and evidence‑based approaches that highlight meaningful contributions to student success. We welcome new, unpublished work that expands current conversations in academic librarianship.
Focus of the Book:
The focus of this book is to explore how academic libraries define, assess, and advocate for student success in their institutions.
We invite chapters on topics including, but not limited to, the following:
- How academic libraries define and measure student success within information literacy programs
- Experiences of librarians teaching credit‑bearing courses and assessing their instructional impact
- How student success factors shape collection development strategies and maintenance decisions
- Data‑driven acquisitions as a tool for supporting and measuring student success
- Auditing library collections to determine how well they meet student needs
- How open education initiatives (OER, open textbooks) support student success
- Collaborations between libraries and student affairs units to enhance student success
Final chapters will be between 4,000 and 6,000 words and are due by September 1, 2026.
Submission Procedure:
Email an abstract (300-500 words) and author bio(s) (up to 100 words) as a Word document to studentsuccessandacademiclibra@gmail.com.
Timeline
- Proposals due by Friday, May 1, 2026
- Notifications of acceptance will be sent by June 1, 2026
- Completed manuscripts (4,000-6,000 words) due by September 1, 2026
- Projected publication in 2027
About the editors
Jennifer Putnam Davis is the Scholarship and Data Librarian and Assistant Professor at Augusta University, Augusta, GA. Please contact her at jdavis14@augusta.edu for any questions.
Dr. Thomas Weeks is a Reference and Instruction Librarian and Associate Professor at Augusta University, Augusta, GA. Please contact him at tweeks@augusta.edu for any questions.
Dr. Melissa E. Johnson is the Director of Reese Library and Professor at Augusta University, Augusta, GA. Please contact her at mjohns69@augusta.edu for any questions.