A space for innovation: Proposing a maintenance schema for library work

Joel Burkholder,Jeremy Mcginniss

doi:10.33011/newlibs/9/15

Abstract

This column proposes a schema to help librarians identify and communicate the importance and function of maintenance in library practice in order to challenge uncritical views of innovation. Understanding maintenance as an interdependent and multi-faceted concept, essential to library work and practice, challenges the narrative that innovation alone can solve problems caused by limited budgets and insufficient staff. The proposed schema can be engaged at both microscopic and macroscopic levels, benefiting individuals, specific departments, and entire libraries.

Highlights

This column proposes a schema to help librarians identify and communicate the importance and function of maintenance in library practice in order to challenge uncritical views of innovation
We present a conceptual framework to help librarians identify and communicate the importance and function of maintenance which will challenge the uncritical views of innovation
The act of seeing the work of maintenance holistically can inform the kinds of infrastructure that enable innovation

Summary

Introduction

This column proposes a schema to help librarians identify and communicate the importance and function of maintenance in library practice in order to challenge uncritical views of innovation. Positioning innovation as the only solution, and linking that solution to the future of libraries, distracts librarians from identifying and developing intentional maintenance practices focused on managing and sustaining library practices and services. We present a conceptual framework to help librarians identify and communicate the importance and function of maintenance which will challenge the uncritical views of innovation. In making the practices of maintenance visible, we can frame the planning and the infrastructure necessary for sustaining innovation.

Results

Conclusion