Narrative-based librarianship

Brophy, Peter (2004) Narrative-based librarianship. UNSPECIFIED. Jagiellonian University Press.

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Abstract

Librarianship has developed rapidly over the last century, building up its own techniques while borrowing judiciously from other disciplines. In recent years there has been interest in adapting an approach which has emerged from medical science, namely evidence-based practice. However, there is now discernable in medical disciplines a recognition that in order to be effective it is necessary to go beyond this concept and consider how evidence is interpreted, presented and understood. Bare statistics and other quantitative approaches need to be accompanied by rich pictures which illustrate effective strategies and which are persuasive to both practitioners and clients. The result of this thinking has been the emergence of 'narrative-based practice'. In this paper, the case for a 'narrative-based librarianship', which would encompass both the management of libraries and the development of content, is examined.