The Hyperlinked Library Model

The hyperlinked library is human. Communication, externally and internally, is in a human voice. The librarians speak to users via open, transparent conversation.

—Michael Stephens, The Hyperlinked Library

In Module 3, we will explore The Hyperlinked Library model, which emphasizes an open, participatory institution that welcomes user input and creativity. It is built on human connections and conversations. The organizational chart is flatter and team-based; the collections grow and thrive via user and staff involvement. Librarians are tapped in to user spaces and online places to interact, have presence, and point the way. Adapting to change in a positive, forward-thinking manner will also be important for libraries and information environments. The response to ongoing change should be constant and purposeful — based on thoughtful planning and grounded in the mission of libraries. Hyperlinked Library services are born from careful trend-spotting, an application of the foundational tenets of librarianship, and an informed understanding of emerging technologies’ societal and cultural impact.

Intro to the “historic” Hyperlinked Library Model Lecture

• View Lecture – Web Version
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Lecture Recording

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• Download Lecture Slides
• Download Video Podcast

Things to Read

• Weinberger, D. (2001). The hyperlinked organization.
• Stephens, M. (2006). Into a new world of librarianship: nextspace_002
• Stephens, M. (2010). The hyperlinked school library: engage, explore, celebrate.
• Mathews, B. (2010). The unquiet library has high-schoolers geeked.
• Booth, M. (2013). People and UTS Library.
• Mattern, S. (2014). Library as Infrastructure
• Schmidt, A. (2014). Exploring Context (PDF Here: UX Exploring_context)
• Denning, S. (2015). Do We Need Libraries?
• Searls, D. & Weinberger, D. (2015). New Clues.
• Stephens, M. (2016). Introduction to Chapter 1 “Hyperlinked Librarianship” in The Heart of Librarianship, p. 1
• Model Program (2017), Four Spaces of the Public Library
• Leferink, S. (2018). To keep people happy … keep some books
• Tomlin, P. (2018). Empowerment, Experimentation, Engagement: Embracing Partnership Models in Libraries
• Stephens, M. (2019). “Open to Change” in Wholehearted Librarianship, p. 80

Things to View

• Kanal tilhørende transformationlab. (2009). Mindspot the movie: the library as a universe.
• Harvard University (Director). (2012). The future of the Harvard Library.
• We Are Library People (2015). Aarhus Library Tour

Things to Explore

• Roush, W. (2005). Social machines: Computing means connecting.
• DOK. (2010). Create stories tell stories keep stories: DOK Library Annual Report.
• Stephens, M. (2011). The hyperlinked library. (Original white paper text)
• Rainie, L. (2016). The Puzzles Librarians need to Solve.
• MIT Libraries. (2017). Future of Libraries MIT
• Anderson, N. (2018). Curated resources on diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and equity for libraries
• Edmondson, A. (2022). The Fearless Organization [graphic].