Public libraries have long been viewed solely as places that store books for the community to check out. Libraries offer a plethora of services today, and they are open to help their patrons in any way possible. Today’s library is a third space, an information center, and ultimately serves as the heart of the public.

I currently work at the circulation desk at my local library, and I get a lot of questions every day from patrons asking what they are allowed to do at the library. Even patrons who are coming in just to check out books learn that we offer so many more services to help them find books we may not even have, like requesting an interlibrary loan. One of the biggest things I have noticed is that patrons still think the library should constantly be a quiet spaces; however, that is not the case. The library is lively especially during programs, when library kids are there, and in other scenarios. Schneider’s article compared library users to the sun conveying that all the services revolve around the users (2006). This is exactly the reason why libraries are still relevant and will continue to keep that relevancy.

Changes in Technology: One major way libraries maintain their spot as a center for the community is by keeping up with new technological developments. In the lecture video, there was an example of a group of students using their phones at a museum visit to explore the institution’s services (2025). This is especially helpful for getting teens and students involved in library services or programs. At my local library, we do not see a lot of teens, but we have been trying to bring more in with new programs.

For the summer reading program at my local library, we moved our adult program completely online because that is what makes sense for our community. There are in-person summer reading programs and a book-guessing event, but the adults are able to enter for the grand prize by completing book reviews on the website and all the advertising for summer reading is on the social media pages. So far, this has doubled our adult summer reading participation from last year.

Participatory Services: As previously mentioned, users are at the center of library services. Hyperlinked librarians want to hear from the public to know how to best serve them. The Los Angeles Public Library created a survey for their patrons to help design future services because they serve millions of people annually (Mack, 2013). Surveys are an efficient way to get anonymous responses. Additionally, admin can discuss with circulation desk employees what the public seems to be wanting or needing the most, since they interact with patrons daily.

Essentially, 21st century libraries are constantly changing to stay relevant to the public. Hyperlinked libraries will continue to grow and foster connections because they are one of the last spaces that we have that are for everyone.

References

Mack, C. (2013, February 17). Crowdsourced design: Why Los Angeles is asking the public to create the library of the future. GOOD. https://www.good.is/crowdsourced-design-why-los-angeles-is-asking-the-public-to-create-the-library-of-the-future/

Schneider, K. G. (2006, June 3). The user is not broken: A meme masquerading as a manifesto. Free Range Librarian. https://freerangelibrarian.com/2006/06/03/the-user-is-not-broken-a-meme-masquerading-as-a-manifesto/

Stephens, M. (2025). Hyperlinked Library Participatory Service & Transparency. [Panopto Lecture Video]. San José State University. https://sjsu-ischool.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=2a19a4b6-e945-4d2e-abf1-aef3014172a5