Chapter 9: Navigating Caribbean Academic Librarianship: Reflections on a Storied Career

This chapter showcases the breadth of Caribbean academic librarianship from the lived experiences and reflections of one librarian. It highlights contributions associated with the varied and intersecting roles of this academic librarian, including that of practitioner, teacher, researcher, and administrator over a 38-year career that started in the 1980s. The contemplative piece draws on and is guided by the literature and research of reflective practice, especially in ‘bringing intentional reflection to one's own work’ (Miller et al., 2020, p. 353) with the use of guiding questions. The chapter, however, deviates from using a single framework, and chronicles the movement and output of a pre-tenured librarian to a higher education administrator, with reflections in an autobiographical, story-telling style through different lenses. It documents significant impacts on the shaping and development of a professional identity, including mentor relationships, empowering institutional experiences, higher education choices, and research niche areas. Key issues of leadership, values, changes in the academy, as well as challenges associated with Caribbean professional practice, are also addressed.