Adventures in Hyperlinked Land

The above is my inspiration report on using Infinite Learning to support formerly incarcerated people through a sustainable program that enables continued reentry into society and fosters a lifelong learning attitude. To download and view this report, click on this link to access it from my Drive folder.

The Library is an Evolving Classroom The library serves not just as an institution for the long-term storage of texts and objects, but also as an ever-evolving landscape of pedagogy for its surrounding community (Stephens, 2016). Libraries serve this purpose by not only providing various services and programs to support the learning of the community surrounding a library, but also by enabling an interactive, imaginative learning environment for patrons (Nygren, 2014; Stephens, 2016). Those who doubt the effectiveness of the library as a classroom environment can be persuaded by the enjoyment, interactivity, and adequacy of the library as a classroom (Block, 2014; Lippincott, 2015). The library as classroom also allows…

The Need for Sharing Stories in a Divided World Stories have the power to give strength, understanding, and hope amidst the turmoil of the world around the reader or listener, as in a book or an audiocast (Stephens, 2019, 2025; Villagran & Long, 2022). Stories can help an individual gain greater insight into the background and interests of community members (Stephens, 2020). Information from those stories should be freely accessible, and a way to garner stories of those in a neighborhood is through various interpersonal story-sharing programs at libraries (Eberhart, 2018; Paxaman, 2020; Stephens, 2019; Wentz, 2013). These types of experiences, according to Arne-Skidmore (2021), have allowed for greater development…

History Repeating and the Present Renovating Like in 2017, 2025 showcases several issues that revolve around the dissipation of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) plans; economic issues plaguing the world, political tensions with educational institutions, and changes in ways of learning revolving around technological innovations (Adams Becker et al., 2017; NewMediaConsortium, 2017; Robert et al., 2025). The recent United States (US) Presidential administration, as of 2025, has chosen to undo various embedded DEI programs in higher education, which were created to create a more inclusive learning environment for diverse students (Robert et al., 2025). This aspect is closely tied to the various interconnected impacts on many people’s livelihoods, following the…

Idea: Social Worker in the Library The goal of many libraries is to provide a safe, equitable, and inclusive environment for patrons to thrive, and incorporating a social worker into a library is key to achieving this goal (ALA, n.d.; Noah Lenstra [@NoahLenstra], 2023; The Salt Lake Tribune, 2023). This service enables multiple patrons to access essential resources vital for individuals experiencing homelessness, those in need of psychological support, those requiring immigration assistance, and more (Barboza, 2025; Rodriguez, 2019; The Salt Lake Tribune, 2023). Many of these needs are essential to support the community surrounding Southwestern College (SWC) in Chula Vista, given Chula Vista’s highly diverse population (Data USA, n.d.).…

Censorship, an Uphill Battle There has always been a history of censorship of books and narratives; however, as of 2025, an influx of individuals seeking to ban materials deemed unsafe for children has occurred (Oliver, 2022; Vasilogambros, 2025). The primary concerns of those who wish to censor books in the library pertain to subjects related to LGBTQIA+ issues and race (ALA, n.d.; CNN, 2021; Oliver, 2022). There is also the factor of how censorship is done, which is alarming to witness myself as a person who works in education. Censorship of contested topics encompasses either the downplaying of factors surrounding horrendous tragedies and prejudice, such as replacing Maus with less…

A Free and Open Library Two subjects stood out to me the most in this module: the need for librarians to adopt an equitable and open-minded attitude in serving their community, and how libraries can be an encouraging space for patrons to thrive (Garcia-Febo, 2018; Hasan, 2022). The subjects reminded me of previous courses that I took, which focused on social justice and the need for libraries to be more equitable areas for patrons to thrive in a culturally aware environment. (Kostelecky et al., 2023). Because of this experience in those courses, I realized that providing such a free and open space for many patrons to thrive in a non-judgmental…

Now, as in the past, freedom of speech and expression are threatened by politicians playing into many people’s fears, and a free and open library space catered to the diverse and participatory needs of the public is needed to combat the suppression of people’s ideas (Kuhn, 2024; Library Futures, 2025; Stephens, 2025). One way to introduce the library as a free and open space is to be as transparent with the library community as possible, as many are woefully misinformed on the reasoning for the inclusion of various spaces in the library, catered to diverse needs, and the inclusion of various texts (Bolan, 2008; Kuhn, 2024). Another method is for…

Hello everyone! My name is Miguel, and I am excited to participate in this course as part of my LIS studies. I live in San Diego, California, and I am currently working as a substitute librarian for elementary schools in the La Mesa County area. I enjoy answering all students’ questions concerning their learning experience so that they might succeed as students. I chose this course to continue what a previous professor said about staying up-to-date on what is occurring in the library space. I am excited to learn about all the innovative technologies and ways the library space is evolving to keep up with the ever-evolving needs of patrons.…