Perspective Symbolic (cognitive, critical)


Relevant terms and concepts


credentials, culture, dispositions, distinction, field, habitus, language, power, property, qualifications, recognition, reputation, social reproduction


Network (structural, organisational)


bridge, brokerage, closure, density, expressive and instrumental action, embeddedness, heterophily and homophily, multiplexity, nodes, positionality, prestige, structural holes, strength of weak ties


Normative (behavioural, relational)


bonding, bridging, closure, collective action, common understanding, community, identities, institutions, mutuality, obligations, reciprocity, social norms, trust and trustworthiness


Concepts of social capital.


arly careers and how they provide social support and resources enabling progress and success. Academic librarians have used symbolic, network and/or norma- tive perspectives to review the roles and relationships of liaison librarians and library leaders and to refocus infor- mation literacy instruction and library space design towards civic education and community engagement. They have also used social network analysis to examine the collaborative networks of researchers, the personal networks of practitioner-researchers and member behaviour in resource-sharing networks.


Theory into practice


Our book contains nine case studies illustrating how social capital concepts and theories can facilitate organisational learning, quality improvement and col- laborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders for different activi- ties including academic liaison, collection development, functional librarianship, information literacy, learning spaces, library fundraising, service design, sub- ject specialisation and student success.


Examples of applications: Amanda Folk integrated Bourdieu’s cultural capital and social reproduction concepts with situated learning theory to explore challenges for first-generation students in developing the academic lit- eracies needed for success, and propose expanded roles for librarians as media- tors between students and faculty on the (re)design of research assignments and development of support networks.


l Kathryn Dilworth integrated philan- thropy research with Putnam’s concepts of bridging and bonding social capital to explain how libraries can use a Social Capital Fundraising Model to involve more staff in building relationships with alumni, stewarding previous and future donors and converting library contacts into committed funders of collections and innovation projects.


October-November 2023


l Alice Rogers, Sara Sweeney Bear and Scott Fralin used social network analysis as an impact assessment tool to investigate the intensity, multiplexity and reciprocity of relationships developed among student learners, library staff, teaching faculty and external partners via participation in a suite of collaborative spaces and services at Virginia Tech Libraries.


l Andrea Kosavic and Minglu Wang combined symbolic, network and norma- tive perspectives to gain new insights into cultural, structural and behavioural factors enabling libraries to become trusted partners in research data management, including the positional power of library directors, bridging ties of subject liaisons and their bonding relationships with func- tional specialists.


Relational librarianship is work in pro- gress. Our model is grounded in practice and will evolve as new evidence emerges from the field. Our concluding table enables librarians to track their journey from a transactional to a relational library.


Service models compared.


Transactional Librarianship (support service)


One-shot, short-term contacts and encounters


One-way, function-based transactions (hierarchical, departmentally siloed)


Library-centric information communicated via fixed service points or static web pages


Detached, reactive, hands-off, across-the-desk directions and instruction


Impersonal, standardised offerings (One size fits all)


Reducing costs by pushing users towards self-help and self-service (Do It Yourself)


Monoculturalist: identity blind with equality mindset, culturally conservative


Librarians as Technocratic Professionals – delivering authoritative service interventions


Relational Librarianship (collaborative culture)


Ongoing, long-term connections and experiences


Two-way, process-based interactions (cross-functional, multi-professional)


User-centric resources and help embedded in learner, teacher and researcher workflows


Engaged, anticipatory, hands-on, side-by-side advice and guidance


Personal, customised assistance (Every scholar their resource)


Adding value by working with stakeholders as partners and co-creators (Doing It Together)


Multiculturalist: identity conscious and equity centred, culturally relevant and sustaining


Librarians as Democratic Professionals – building transformative social relationships


Key theorists Pierre Bourdieu


Order your copy of The Social Future of Academic LIbraries: New perspectives on on Communities, Networks, and Engage- ment by Paul Bracke, Sheila Corrall and Tim Schlak at https://bit.ly/45cUKxr. CILIP members can get a 35 per cent discount on all Facet books. IP


Ronald Burt


Mark Granovetter Nan Lin


References 1. Tim Schlak, Sheila Corrall and Paul Bracke (eds)., The Social Future of Academic Libraries: New Perspectives on Communities, Networks and Engagement, Facet, 2022.


2. Vicki Williamson, Relationships and Engagement: The Chal- lenges and Opportunities for Effective Leadership and Change Management in a Canadian Research Library. Library Management 2008 29(1/2), pp.29-40.


James Coleman Elinor Ostrom Robert Putnam


3. Jenny Ellis and Andrea Phillips, Re-defining the Service Experience: Forging Collaboration between Librarians and Students. Library Management 2013 34(8/9), pp.603-618.


4. Benjamin Meunier, Library Technology and Innovation as a Force for Public Good: A Case Study from UCL Library Services, 5th International Symposium on Emerging Trends and Technolo- gies in Libraries and Information Services 2018, pp.159-165.


5. Carol A. Leibiger and Alan W. Aldrich, “Making It Happen”: Build- ing Relational Teaching into the Online World of Covid-19, portal: Libraries and the Academy 2022 22(1), pp.27-51.


6. Manuel Castells, The Information Age: Economy, Society and Culture, 3 vols. (2nd ed.), Oxford University Press.


7. Jan van Dijk, The Network Society (4th ed.), SAGE.


8. Herminia Ibarra and Mark Hunter, How Leaders Create and Use Net- works. Harvard Business Review 2022 Fall (Special issue), pp.90-97.


9. Evert Gummesson, Making Relationship Marketing Operational, International Journal of Service Industry Manage- ment 1994 5(5), pp.5-20.


10. Adrian Payne, David Ballantyne and Martin Christopher, A Stakeholder Approach to Relationship Marketing Strategy: The De- velopment and Use of the “Six Markets” Model, European Journal of Marketing 2005 39(7/8), pp.855-871.


11. Celia Whitchurch, Reconstructing Identities in Higher Educa- tion: The Rise of Third Space Professionals, Routledge, 2013.


12. Nicole A. Cooke, Information Services to Diverse Populations: Developing Culturally Competent Library Professionals, Libraries Unlimited, 2017, p. 20


13. Albert W. Dzur, Democratic Professionalism: Citizen Participa- tion and the Reconstruction of Professional Ethics, Identity, and Practice, Pennsylvania State University Press, 2008.


14. Jan van Dijk, The Network Society (4th ed.), SAGE, p. 20.


15. Adrian Payne and Pennie Frow, Relationship Marketing: Looking Backwards Towards the Future. Journal of Services Marketing, 2017 31(1), p.12.


16. Mary Anne Devanna and Noel Tichy, Creating the Competitive Organization of the 21st Century: The Boundaryless Corpora- tion. Human Resource Management 1990 29(4), p.456.


17. Nicola Andrews, Sunny Kim and Josie Watanabe, Cultural Humility as a Transformative Framework for Librarians, Tutors, and Youth Volunteers: Applying a Lens of Cultural Responsive- ness in Training Library Staff and Volunteers, Young Adult Library Services 2018 16(2), p. 20.


18. Albert W. Dzur, Democratic Professionalism: Citizen Participation and the Reconstruction of Professional Ethics, Identity, and Practice, Pennsylvania State University Press, 2008, p. 130.


19. Janine Nahapiet and Sumantra Ghoshal, Social Capital, Intellectual Capital, and the Organizational Advantage. Academy of Management Review 1998 23(2), p.245.


20. David B. Tindall and Barry Wellman, Canada as Social Struc- ture: Social Network Analysis and Canadian Sociology, Canadian Journal of Sociology 2001 26(3), p.266.


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