The School Librarian’s Guide to (Almost) Everything

Organized alphabetically, Madigan’s highly usable guide functions as an encyclopedia for modern school librarians. Each entry offers a concise, expert overview of a topic, ranging from foundational practices such as STR and UDL to timely issues, such as AI, making it a great reference for both new and veteran librarians. The index and “see also” cross-references support efficient navigation, including topics that may not be obvious from the table of contents alone. The preface establishes clear assumptions and grounding principles, signaling that the book is rooted in best practices and standards while remaining accessible. Entries blend practical, fun, and essential topics, reflecting the real questions school librarians frequently encounter, many of which come directly from the online community. While the brevity of entries means not all perspectives are represented, the tome is best understood as informed guidance from experienced colleagues rather than a definitive manual. The appendix points readers toward additional resources, reinforcing the book’s role as a starting point rather than a comprehensive treatment of any issue. This will be particularly valuable for librarians working without guidance from a central library services department, though even well-resourced programs will find it useful for fast, reliable consultation. ­