Best Library & Information Science Books of 2025

This book is a must-read for scholars, researchers, and anyone who wants to present their work visually. Better Data Visualizations: A Guide for Scholars, Researchers, and Wonks by Jonathan Schwabish provides essential strategies to create effective data visualizations. The book covers over 80 visualization types, from histograms to choropleth maps and explains how to make subjective style decisions around a chart's design. The author walks readers through the steps of creating better graphs and how to move beyond simple line, bar, and pie charts. Overall, this book is an excellent practical guide to more effective communication through data visualization.

Reference and Information Services: An Introduction is an essential textbook for MSLIS and i-School courses on reference services and a valuable handbook for practitioners. The book is divided into two parts. The first half provides an overview of reference services and techniques for service provision, including the reference interview, ethics, instruction, reader's advisory, and services to diverse populations including children. The second half offers an overview of the information life cycle and dissemination of information. The book is an excellent resource for reference professionals to provide services with ethical and social justice perspectives.

A Trauma-Informed Framework for Supporting Patrons: The PLA Workbook of Best Practices is a valuable resource for library staff who want to better understand and support patrons who have experienced trauma. The workbook provides practical tools and exercises to help staff develop a trauma-informed approach to their work, including de-escalation strategies and guidance on involving law enforcement and banning patrons. The scenarios presented in the workbook are diverse and cover a range of challenging behaviors, from mental health issues to child abuse and theft. Overall, this is an essential guide for library staff to develop their skills and improve their interactions with patrons.

"Library: An Unquiet History" by Matthew Battles takes readers on a journey through the history of libraries, exploring how they have accumulated, preserved, shaped, inspired, and even obliterated knowledge. Battles discusses the burning of libraries in Europe and Bosnia, as well as the revolutionary upheavals of the digital age. The book is elegantly written and engaging, with Battles' evident enthusiasm for the subject fanning the flames of any passion for books and libraries. Overall, "Library: An Unquiet History" is a splendidly articulate, informative, and provocative book that is a must-read for bibliophiles and anyone interested in the history of knowledge preservation.

"Whole Person Librarianship: A Social Work Approach to Patron Services" is a valuable resource for librarians and social workers who seek to collaborate on providing holistic services to library patrons. The book offers practical examples and insights on how librarians can learn from social workers and connect patrons with social services. It also provides ideas for self-education and highlights the benefits of collaboration between the two professions. The book is well-crafted, optimistic, and highly recommended for those interested in the future of librarianship and social work partnerships."

This book, titled "An Introduction to Collection Development for School Librarians" by Mona Kerby, provides an excellent resource for beginning librarians to manage school library collections effectively. The author emphasizes the need to engage learners with the materials and offers strategies to achieve this. The book covers key components such as policies, practices, and selection sources, as well as methods for analyzing needs and showcasing collections. The book is supported by the National School Library Standards and ALA/AASL/CAEP standards. The second edition reflects current developments in school library collections. Overall, this book is a must-read for new school librarians and a great resource for busy veterans.

Fundamentals of Collection Development and Management is a comprehensive guide for librarians, covering every aspect of collection development and management from traditional management topics to the evolving needs of library users. The book is an essential textbook for LIS students and a quick reference tool for seasoned professionals. Peggy Johnson, an expert instructor and librarian, has revised and updated the resource to ensure its timeliness and continued excellence. This book is a remarkable achievement and an excellent resource for all librarians.

The third edition of Information Services Today: An Introduction provides an in-depth overview of the current state of information services and the need for ongoing professional development to meet the changing needs of information communities. The book covers a variety of topics, including the history of the field, the role of technology, and current issues and trends. The new edition also includes updates on emerging challenges and opportunities for future growth, making it an essential resource for information professionals. Overall, Information Services Today: An Introduction is a valuable guide for those looking to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the information management field.

Effective leadership and management are essential to a successful, thriving health sciences library, yet often librarians are promoted into leadership roles with little to no training and support. Then, swamped with the demands of their new positions, they struggle to find time to read multiple books on a leadership topic or attend long (and expensive) leadership training programs. Essential Leadership Skills for Health Sciences Information Professionals is intended to help fill that gap by making the accumulated wisdom of experienced leaders available in a concise, easy-to-digest format. Each chapter is written by an experienced library leader and provides essential background and practical, actionable advice on eleven essential leadership topics: the health sciences library environment; building relationships and engaging stakeholders; setting direction; building and leading the team; engaging your staff; leading with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion; planning and managing projects; managing change; decision-making and problem-solving; crisis leadership; and managing and taking care of yourself. Busy leaders and aspiring leaders can learn essential information about a leadership topic quickly, then explore cited and recommended resources as needed to build deeper expertise. While examples are focused on the unique needs and environments of health sciences libraries, much of the material will be useful to leaders in all types of libraries.Today’s libraries must navigate challenging and rapidly changing environments and compete for talent in a tight and highly competitive labor market. Effective and compassionate leadership is essential for libraries—and the people who work in them—to thrive in these conditions. Essential Leadership Skills for Health Sciences Information Professionals is designed to help aspiring, new, and experienced leaders develop the skills to build and sustain healthy, innovative, flexible, and resilient organizations and work environments that create value for their employees and the populations they serve.

The 6th edition of "Librarian's Guide to Online Searching" is an essential guide to understanding databases and teaching search strategies to library users. It covers a wide range of fee-based and freely available databases, including recent changes such as full-text indexing by vendors covering newspaper content. The book takes a practical, real-world approach and includes exercises and points to consider, making it ideal for courses in database searching and as a professional resource. Overall, this book is an indispensable tool for librarians and students seeking to understand the latest developments in library databases.