Pioneers in Librarianship profiles sixty notable librarians who made significant contributions to the field. Librarians chosen for inclusion in this volume met one or more of these three criteria:

The librarian conceived a new method for improving library services, invented their own method of book cataloging, or devised an administrative system for libraries to operate under. The librarian is historically famous because he/she was notable historically.The librarian was the first woman or minority to make significant achievements within the field of LIS. The achievements of the librarians profiled here are important because they shaped the field. Many of their theories, ideas, and contributions are still being utilized in libraries today.

Librarians profiled here include Melvil Dewey, Carla Hayden, S. R. Ranganathan, Justin Winsor, Charles Coffin Jewett, Katharine Sharp, Pura Belpré, Allie Beth Martin, and John Cotton Dana.