Sacred Stacks: The Higher Purpose of Libraries and Librarianship

Librarianship as a calling is a powerful perspective. Many librarians sense the deeper meaning and higher purpose in their work, yet rarely have time to contemplate it. Maxwell's down-to-earth candor combined with scholarly insight is designed to inspire and enlighten her library peers and colleagues. Drawing from history, sociology, and philosophy, Sacred Stacks voices the importance of the library profession and libraries as community institutions in a secular time. Librarians, LIS students and educators, as well as trustees, can step into these Sacred Stacks to reignite meaning in their everyday work. Considering these higher purposes of libraries, Maxwell outlines the work of librarians and libraries that: promote community, uplift society, preserve and transmit culture, and organize chaos.