Drawing on Conversation Theory , Lankes posits that knowledge is socially constructed through language and intersubjective agreements rather than objective, static facts.
It won the 2012 ABC-CLIO/Greenwood Award for Best Book in Library Literature for its innovative approach to professional education.
Its large, coffee-table book format and conversational tone were intended to stimulate ongoing professional dialogue rather than provide a rigid encyclopedia of facts. Critical Reception and Impact The atlas of new librarianship
While widely recognized as a "manifesto" for the future of the field, the work received polarized reviews:
Lankes argues that the librarian —not the library building—is the primary tool of the profession. Traditional services like cataloging and physical spaces are seen as temporary tools that may change or disappear over time. Unique Structural Design Drawing on Conversation Theory , Lankes posits that
Unlike a standard professional monograph, the Atlas is designed for exploration and "casual browsing".
To improve society through facilitating knowledge creation in their communities. Critical Reception and Impact While widely recognized as
For those interested in exploring the text or its later updates: The Atlas of New Librarianship - R. David Lankes (Review)