Using the “Humble Inquiry” Approach to Cultivate Flourishing Librarian-Learner Relationships

Teaching librarians often nurture budding learners through helping interactions. As unseen forces of nature, social and power dynamics significantly impact how help is given and received. Drawn from the field of social psychology, Edgar Schein’s “humble inquiry” approach to helping relationships merits attention from librarians. Humble inquiry requires the librarian to ask the patron open-ended questions while cultivating a relationship rooted in curiosity and genuine interest. This workshop will examine the benefits of asking and listening over knowing and telling, especially as a means of effectively supporting patrons from marginalized communities.