Library Service and Learning: Empowering Students, Inspiring Social Responsibility, and Building Community Connections. Edited by Theresa McDevitt and Caleb P. Finegan. Chicago: ACRL, 2018. 438 p. Paper $78.00 (ISBN 978-083894609-1).

Service learning is a type of experiential learning through which students learn while engaged in a service project. A librarian’s role might involve helping students frame research questions, introducing library resources, or teaching information literacy concepts. In “Introduction to Library Service and Learning,” the editors note the transformative learning potential of service learning opportunities. These types of learning experiences allow students more self-direction and a chance to have a real impact on the community; they are hands-on, student-focused, and authentic. Twenty-one chapters detail unique examples of how academic librarians collaborated with campus or community partners to integrate the library into a service learning project. A final chapter presents a review of literature on service learning that complements the book’s contents.

There are many moving parts to service learning projects, and this book presents them in a detailed and consistent format that makes them seem less daunting and more doable. Each chapter provides an overview of a specific service learning activity, a description of the people involved, details of the steps followed, project feedback and assessment, a conclusion, and an appendix of materials. Within these categories, the authors address the importance of student reflection as part of the learning experience. They also describe any difficulties they encountered.

Library Service and Learning is recommended for academic librarians who are interested in beginning or expanding their involvement with service learning educational opportunities. They can choose from a wide range of topics covered in the various chapters and draw upon the detailed examples to begin their own projects. The examples provide not only a practical guide for librarians but also a resource to help convince potential partners to engage in collaborations. Unfortunately, the book lacks an index that would help someone locate terms mentioned throughout the text. —Cheryl McCain, Library Instruction Coordinator, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma